SHAH ALAM, August 21: The State Government is ready to present the draft proposal for the acquisition of concession companies in this state at any time as a step to implement the restructuring of the water industry in the state.
Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said that they welcome discussions with the Federal Government on the matter as previously agreed.
“We are now waiting for the final stage of this discussion to present our respective draft proposals and hope that it can be expedited in the interest of the people who are burdened by water problems.
“The implementation will also need to be holistic and should be in the interest of all parties, instead of only profiting certain parties,” he said.
He said this when asked about the statement issued by the Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water, Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili who said that the clean water supply problem in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya is expected to be resolved in three months.
Maximus, however, said that a solution of the issue will be met in the near future if the Federal Government and the Selangor State Government reach an agreement on various matters and are both willing to compromise.
Prior to this, the State Government, through its subsidiary company, Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Berhad (KDEB) made a bid of RM9.6 billion to acquire the four concessionaires.
The four concessionaires are – the Selangor Water Supply Company (Syabas), Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd, Konsortium Among the four concessionaires Water Supply Company Selangor (Syabas), Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd, Konsortium Abass Sdn Bhd and the Company’s Water Treatment Plant (Splash).