SHAH ALAM, 9 Jan: The Selangor Government will be working hard to ensure that water supply disruptions in Cheras, Gombak and Ampang will be connected within a week.
The State Government, through the Selangor Water Supply Monitoring Committee, have been holding daily meetings with the Selangor Water Supply Company (Syabas – Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor) to solve the problem of disruptions.
Although the disruptions are due to Syabas’ failure in carrying out its responsibilities, the State Government will still assist them in solving the problem, which has been ongoing for almost two weeks.
“We know all of Syabas’ operations. We will solve the water pump problem in Wangsa Maju in a week,” said Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim after the Exco meeting on January 9.
“This is the Selangor Government’s commitment to the people,” said Abdul Khalid.
According to the agreement with the State Government and the Federal Government, Syabas is responsible for the distribution of treated water in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
The disruption of the supply occurred after five water pumps in the pump house in Wangsa Maju broke down and failed to function for almost two weeks.
Previously, Abdul Khalid said that the disruptions could have been avoided if Syabas maintained the pumps at the pump house from the beginning of last year and not when there is a disruption in the water supply.
Meanwhile in a statement on January 9, Abdul Khalid said that the excuses given by Syabas as to why the water pumps in Wangsa Maju failed, is unacceptable.
The conclusion was reached after the State Government called for all parties involved in the construction of the pump house, including engineers, designers and contractors.
Investigations revealed that Syabas had failed to properly maintain the VSD system used in the operation of the pumps.
“The State Government found that claims by Syabas that spare parts involved had to be imported from Finland was not true as the suppliers confirmed that the parts are available from China, by courier service.”
Abdul Khalid also urged the Federal Government to accelerate the takeover of the water industry by the Selangor Government to avoid such problems from recurring.
“We take this water disruptions as a problem that must be addressed immediately by the Federal Government as it proves the failure of the water privatisation project which was given to companies that are not qualified and competent.”