(PRESS STATEMENT)
The Selangor State Government does not intend to revise the RM9.65 billion amount offered to water concessionaires in February 2013 to finalise the restructuring of water supply services in the state.
Chief Minister, YAB Tan Sri Datuk Seri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said, the state government considers that the offer to give 12 percent of profits to shareholders is fairer towards concessionaires.
“The privatisation of water (services) aims to provide more efficient water service at a reasonable rate. This policy is not aimed at allowing concessionaires to profit excessively from the distress of the people, who are the consumers.
However, the offer we provide is more reasonable if compared to corporate practices,” he said.
The Chief Minister made this clarification following media reports recently stating that the state government is revising the offer price for concessionaires.
He said that senior state officials held a meeting with the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water, as well as other Federal agencies such as the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) and Water Asset Management Company (WAMCO), to ensure that the year-end deadline to end negotiations will be achieved.
“During these meetings, the Federal Government has responded positively to our calculations we provided to enable us to buy the concessionaires and go on to restructure the water industry,” the Chief Minister said.
Tan Sri Abdul Khalid expressed his hope for the Federal Government to continue to support the efforts of the Selangor Government so that all stalled negotiations over the past few years can be resolved as soon as possible.
Released by
PRESS SECRETARIAT
OFFICE OF THE DATO’ MENTERI BESAR OF SELANGOR