SHAH ALAM 28 OGOS: It is evident from the repeated failures of the Wangsa Maju Pumping Station that Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) is not very efficient at managing water supplies in Selangor, said the Chief Minister of Selangor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.
Khalid Ibrahim was critical of Syabas’ recent failure in ensuring the pumping station that was recently restored to operate smoothly, which caused water supply disruptions in Cheras and Bandar Tun Razak.
According to Khalid Ibrahim, ever since the pumping station experienced downtime for restoration works to be carried out in July 2012, water supply disruptions had occurred ten several times because of functional failures.
“Although remedial steps have been agreed upon to be implemented by Syabas, but to date the Wangsa Maju Pumping Station operations often fail, causing water supply disruptions and severe distress,” he said.
Khalid Ibrahim delivered those statements during a press conference at the local SUK Building soon after chairing the State EXCO Council meeting earlier in the afternoon.
Earlier this year, the State Council formed a Water Supply Monitoring Committee for the Selangor State to investigate the Wangsa Maju Pumping Station failure.
The investigation found that Syabas had failed to maintain water supply assets and facilities since January 1st 2005, as per concession agreement, and failed to identify the damages to the pumps in the pumping station which caused further serious damages. They also failed to take immediate necessary actions to repair the damages to the pump, and failed to file an incidence report to the State Government.
To prevent anymore similar incidents from recurring, Abdul Khalid said the state government is now taking action by ordering the pump manufacturer to repair the damages.
The State Government will bear all repair costs.
Khalid Ibrahim also urged the Federal Government to hasten the acquisitions’ negotiation process to allow the State Government taking over Syabas’ management and operational processes.
“We will ensure that consumers’ rights are intact while obtaining efficiently treated water supplies without any further disruptions due to mismanagement, and at a more reasonable tariff,” he said.