BY HAFIZAN TAIB
SHAH ALAM, NOV 4: The State Government will not repeat the previous administration’s practice in conducting matters related to the water services industry in the state.
Dato’ Menteri Besar, Dato ‘Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said that prior to this, the State Executive Council was never informed of the business dealings between the State Government and Syarikat Pengeluar Air Selangor (Splash), something that is against state administration practices.
“I would like to emphasise that the State Government does not want to repeat the past practices.
“The administration had previously said the takeover offer on Splash was RM250 million and this figure was touted throughout the world, but the same person has never informed the assembly regarding the RM2.975 billion offer made to Splash in a letter dated June 25, 2009 and onwards July 19, 2009.
“It is with the following breakdown of the equity value worth RM1.579 billion and the value of liability worth RM1.396,” he said when winding up the State Budget 2017 at the Selangor State Assembly.
He stated that after the matter was raised by Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim (Port Klang – Independent) and repeated the statement made when asked by Datuk Sulaiman Razak (Permatang – BN) who was not in time to take the notes.
Based on the bids made by the administration in 2009, he said, Splash has informed the State Government to accept the offer and the matter was also expressed to the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water (KeTTHA) by a letter dated 15 October 2009.
“Administration before this said that the offers made to all holders of concessions were based on the method of ‘return on equity (ROE) of 12 percent,” he said.
Commenting further on the question raised by Sulaiman, Mohamed Azmin said, whether the matter meets the provisions of the law or not, the main thing is that it is regarding the transparency as the administrative head of state that must report to the DNS on the matter.
“And because of that the matters regarding Splash takeover process have been brought and discuss in EXCO as it is stated that we do not want to repeat past practices.
“Whether Port Klang will be referred or not (to the Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (SELCAT)), that was under the jurisdiction of the council and I will not be making recommendations to the board because this space is to provide facts alone.
“Whereas all proposals and discussions regarding the takeover of Splash, I took it to the Exco and when it was suggested then I am ready to debate on it in this hall,” he said.