SHAH ALAM, 21 May: The state government did not discuss regarding the addition of cost for the acquisition of water concessions with the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water on May 19.

The Chief Minister, Mohamed Azmin Ali, said that the cost raised by Puncak Niaga Holdings Berhad (PNHB) is not included in the decision to finalise the restructuring of the water industry in Selangor.

He said that this is because Selangor and the federal government are bound by the water industry Master Agreement after both parties agreed to continue its implementation.

“The meeting yesterday was very productive, however the points raised by PNHB was not discussed with the minster, instead we discussed the steps to finalise the agreement.

“We will try to do it before Ramadan,” he said, taken from Bernama.

He said this after chairing the Selangor Economic Action Council (MTES) meeting in Shah Alam today.

Prior to this, Tan Sri Rozali said that he will announce the increase in cost for the acquisition of the company to the state government.

He said that it is due to various effects that were incurred after several delays in the process of finalising the agreement.

Rozali said that the delay also resulted in the improvement of the production of treated water operations and water distribution to not be able to be implemented, and that they had lost many investment opportunities.

Yesterday, the Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water, Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili, said that the restructuring of the water industry in Selangor will be completed in 60 days by reviving the Master Agreement with the approval of the federal government.

NS