The state government wants to take over the operations of water concessionaire Syabas after the company announced its intention to seek permission for immedi-ate rationing in several parts of the Klang Valley.
Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said Clause 32 of the concession agreement allows the state government to step in to manage operations now undertaken by Syabas although it would need the approval of the Federal Government.
“It is doubtful that there is a real water crisis in Selangor as the state water regulator and Syabas board of directors have not been informed of the proposal (to start rationing),” he said here.
“We will write to the Federal Government and SPAN (the National Water Industry Commission) and wait for their response.”
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
TheSun:Holding water security to ransom
SELANGOR Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim last week upped the ante in his game of brinkmanship with the federal government over water issues as the dreaded water crisis has begun in his state, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
Reports say at least one million people in the three regions, which are the country's most densely populated, are affected by supply shortages.
It's not surprising that Khalid remains defiant. He thinks he holds the trump card against the federal government for the Pakatan Rakyat coalition which rules Selangor.
But what's unbecoming is that in doing so, he is also going against the "titah" or royal instruction of the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.
Reports say at least one million people in the three regions, which are the country's most densely populated, are affected by supply shortages.
It's not surprising that Khalid remains defiant. He thinks he holds the trump card against the federal government for the Pakatan Rakyat coalition which rules Selangor.
But what's unbecoming is that in doing so, he is also going against the "titah" or royal instruction of the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.
Bernama:Selangor MB Uncooperative In Resolving Water Woes - Mohd Zin
Selangor Barisan Nasional Coordinator Datuk Seri Mohd Zin Mohamed said Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim's failure to give full cooperation to the Federal Government to resolve the problem of insufficient water reserves in Selangor resulted in water rationing reported to have started in several parts of the Klang Valley.
He said the PKR-led Selangor government should give its approval for the construction of the Langat 2 water treatment plant as the water rationing exercise was just a short-term solution to overcome the water supply shortage.
"In this case, Syabas has no choice but to undertake water rationing to overcome water supply interruptions due to the low reserve capacity in Selangor.
"So, he (Abdul Khalid) should not deviate from the core issue and deceive the people of Selangor by saying that there is still sufficient water supply," he told reporters after officiating the new building of the community-based rehabilitation centre (PDK) at Bukit Changgang, near here Monday.
Mohd Zin said water shortages would occur unless the state government increased the treated water reserve to the industry's standard of 20 per cent, or a more comfortable buffer of 10 per cent.-- BERNAMA
He said the PKR-led Selangor government should give its approval for the construction of the Langat 2 water treatment plant as the water rationing exercise was just a short-term solution to overcome the water supply shortage.
"In this case, Syabas has no choice but to undertake water rationing to overcome water supply interruptions due to the low reserve capacity in Selangor.
"So, he (Abdul Khalid) should not deviate from the core issue and deceive the people of Selangor by saying that there is still sufficient water supply," he told reporters after officiating the new building of the community-based rehabilitation centre (PDK) at Bukit Changgang, near here Monday.
Mohd Zin said water shortages would occur unless the state government increased the treated water reserve to the industry's standard of 20 per cent, or a more comfortable buffer of 10 per cent.-- BERNAMA
Bernama:Selangor Government To Take Over Syabas Management
The Selangor government has decided to step in on the management of Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) within 14 days after it was claimed that it was incapable of providing satisfactory water supply to consumers.
Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said the decision was made under the power provided in Clause 32 of the concession agreement and that "stepping in is part of the concession agreement and is permitted".
"We have the documentation for the take over," he said, adding, however, that the state government would send a letter seeking approval from the federal government and the National Water Services Commission (SPAN).
Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said the decision was made under the power provided in Clause 32 of the concession agreement and that "stepping in is part of the concession agreement and is permitted".
"We have the documentation for the take over," he said, adding, however, that the state government would send a letter seeking approval from the federal government and the National Water Services Commission (SPAN).
Monday, July 16, 2012
MalaysianInsider:Public gave RM143,000 towards Pua’s Syabas suit damages
In just one week, tens of thousands of Malaysians rallied around the DAP’s Tony Pua and donated RM143,256, nearly three-fourths of the RM200,000 in damages he owed water company Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) after losing a defamation lawsuit last month.
The opposition party had started an online campaign to raise RM100,000 to help the federal lawmaker pay the amount by July 16, but the financial support from the public was beyond expectation.
“As at 4pm 13/7/12 (Fri), the online donation campaign has raised RM143,256, a remarkable achievement of small contributions from tens of thousands of Malaysians in less than a week,” Pua wrote on his Facebook page this morning.
He also said that the party “will end the online fund-raiser today.”
The opposition party had started an online campaign to raise RM100,000 to help the federal lawmaker pay the amount by July 16, but the financial support from the public was beyond expectation.
“As at 4pm 13/7/12 (Fri), the online donation campaign has raised RM143,256, a remarkable achievement of small contributions from tens of thousands of Malaysians in less than a week,” Pua wrote on his Facebook page this morning.
He also said that the party “will end the online fund-raiser today.”
TheStar:Sufficient water in Selangor
SELANGOR has more than enough raw water to supply to her people, said Health, Plantation Workers, Poverty and Caring Government Committee chairman Dr A. Xavier Jeyakumar.
He said seven dams – Semenyih, Langat, Klang Gates, Sungai Batu, Sungai Selangor, Sungai Tinggi and Subang – were at full capacity.
He said Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd had forecast insufficient supply of water in 2015.
“The issue is actually about connectivity at all the water treatment plants where excess water could be channelled to areas that do not have enough supply,” said Dr Xavier in response to a question by Dr Abd Rani Osman (PR-Osman) on Selangor’s plan to resolve the water problem.
He said seven dams – Semenyih, Langat, Klang Gates, Sungai Batu, Sungai Selangor, Sungai Tinggi and Subang – were at full capacity.
He said Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd had forecast insufficient supply of water in 2015.
“The issue is actually about connectivity at all the water treatment plants where excess water could be channelled to areas that do not have enough supply,” said Dr Xavier in response to a question by Dr Abd Rani Osman (PR-Osman) on Selangor’s plan to resolve the water problem.
TheSunDaily:Water crisis not related to Langat 2
The looming water "crisis" surrounding the delayed construction of the Langat 2 water treatment plant is due to mismanagement and inefficiency of Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas).
State exco Dr Xavier Jayakumar told theSun that when the Langat 2 project was first discussed in 2008, it was with the understanding that the plant would come into operation in 2015.
"At no time was there a mention of a water crisis anywhere, not in 2008 and not in 2012.
"So if Syabas as the water supplier and distributor wants to say there is a huge water shortage in the area, it is purely its fault because we have more than enough untreated water around," he said.
The state government, through the Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS), controls the state's seven dams, and water levels were between 92% and 100% as of July 2.
State exco Dr Xavier Jayakumar told theSun that when the Langat 2 project was first discussed in 2008, it was with the understanding that the plant would come into operation in 2015.
"At no time was there a mention of a water crisis anywhere, not in 2008 and not in 2012.
"So if Syabas as the water supplier and distributor wants to say there is a huge water shortage in the area, it is purely its fault because we have more than enough untreated water around," he said.
The state government, through the Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS), controls the state's seven dams, and water levels were between 92% and 100% as of July 2.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)