Free Water Continued, State Government Hopes Takeover of Water Industry Will Avoid Tariff Increase

2.1

AMPANG, 24 FEB: While supporting the State Government’s efforts to takeover the water industry, the residents here hopes that the free 20 cubic metres of water scheme will be continued should Pakatan Rakyat (PR) return to govern Selangor in the upcoming election.

After listening to a briefing at the Water Forum here, the people fear that the water tariff will increase again should Umno-BN return to rule Selangor.

this is because according to the 2004 Water Privatisation Agreement, Syabas is authorised to increase water tariffs by 37 percent in 2009 and 25 percent in 2012.

The increase was prevented by Selangor PR when it started to govern the state in 2008, the same year the State Government introduced the 20 cubic metres of free water scheme.

2.2

The Chairman of the Bandar Baru Ampang Residents Association, Cheah Ken Voon, 63, said that the people in Selangor has never experienced the benefits of free water when the State was under the Umno-BN Government.

Thus, he said, the water forum organised by the State Government has opened the eyes of the public regarding the true facts of the alleged water crises which is being manipulated by the Federal Government and the Selangor Water Supply Company (Syabas – Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor).

“Thanks to the State Government’s efforts to provide information to the people about the alleged water crises in this state.

“Overall, the people cannot deny that we have received the benefits of free water from the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat Government since 2008.

“In fact, we also hope that Syabas or even the Central Government will stop politicising the water issue and to surrender the management of water operations to the State Government immediately in the interest of the people,” he said.

The ‘Water For The People’ Forum was held here at the Bandar Baru Ampang Public Hall today. The briefing at the forum was presented by Klang MP, Charles Santiago.

2.3

Kasim Zaini, 53, described the State Government’s efforts to takeover the water services industry in Selangor and the Klang Valley from Syabas proves that the Selangor PR administration truly cares about the people’s interest.

He said that in fact, the water privatisation only hurts the people and largely profits concessionaires.

“Water is a fundamental need of the people. So, is this facility continue to be privatised, it will burden the people.

“The concessionaires will continue to seek out profits at the expense of the people.

“Therefore, this State Government effort to takeover the water management should be supported one hundred percent for the future of us all,” he said.

Last week, the State Government had offered RM9.65 billion to all four of the concessionaires to takeover the operations of treatment and supply of water from them.

The concessionaires are Syabas, Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd, Konsortium Abbas Sdn Bhd (Abbas) and Syarikat Pengeluar Air Selangor Holding (Splash).

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.