A DAP MP today accused the government of siding with Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) even though the water distribution company has failed in its task.
Tony Pua, who is also DAP’s national publicity secretary, pointed out that it was the BN government that initiated the privatisation in 1996 and subsequently signed a concession agreement that allowed Syabas to increase tariffs by 37% in 2009, a further 25% in 2012, and another 15% in 2015.
The tariff increases every three years.
“When Syabas failed to deliver its services to the residents of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor over the past month, the BN government has chosen to blame the Pakatan Rakyat Selangor state government for failing to “approve” the construction of the Langat 2 Multi-billion ringgit water treatment plant.
“How is it Langat 2 which is only scheduled to be completed in 2014 at the very earliest, could have prevent the current water crisis in KL and Selangor is beyond our comprehension,” said Pua in a statement today.
The Langat 2 dam project is proposed by the BN government to overcome water shortage in Selango,r Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. It is scheduled to be completed the earliest, by next year.
He said this in reaction to Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Peter Chin Fah Kui and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s statement defending Syabas.
On Saturday, Najib said that he was saddened to see people living in flats having to lift buckets of water to the upper floors due to water shortage.
“They (Selangor government) are busy pointing fingers and blaming Syabas, and the BN government for the crisis, but this is not the way, this is not the time. We want to blame others, what does that mean?
“Solve the water problem of the people. We cannot because they (Selangor government) won’t give the development order (for the Langat 2 water treatment plant which is needed to avert water crises in the Klang Valley),” said Najib.
Pua said that the comment showed the extent to which BN is willing to tolerate transgressions by its cronies at the expense of the people.
“The current water crisis in Gombak, Ampang and Kuala Lumpur has nothing to do with Langat 2 and everything to do with Syabas’ inability to maintain its existing water supply services,” he said.
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