KUALA LUMPUR, 18 JAN: The Federal Government can be seen as safeguarding the interests of its cronies and the Selangor Water Supply Company (Syabas – Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd) compared to the people in the water issue in Selangor so much so that the problem is persisting without a solution.
Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said that the matter can be resolved quickly should the Federal Government prioritise the people and cooperate with the State Government.
“It is not a political issue but an issue of the people. Return the water rights to the people. Stop privatising it, that is what is most important.
“The law agrees that the water rights can be returned but three parties must agree, the State Government, the Federal Government and shareholders.
“The Federal Government is not favouring the people but is favouring cronies. If the Federal Government agrees, we can solve it by tomorrow,” he said in a press statement today.
Also present was the Selangor Economic Adviser, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Abdul Khalid said that the privatisation on water which was carried out is a mistake because it was handed over to a company that does not have the capacity and ability to carry out water operations.
He said that this was personally acknowledged by the former Minister of Energy, Water and Communications, the late Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik and suggested that it be returned to the State Government.
“It is clear, we have already seen several things including pump care which was not maintained and left damaged for a year, only now they are busy correcting it to the extent that (Datin Seri) Rosmah has to personally haul water,” he said.