'Scrap Pahang-Selangor water project'

By G Vinod

KUALA LUMPUR: Several Pakatan Rakyat senators are urging the government to scrap the Pahang-Selangor Raw Water Transfer Project.

They, instead want the Energy, Water and Green Technology Minister, Peter Chin Fah Kui to consider other options to diversifying the nation's water resources.

Speaking to newsmen in Parliament today, S Ramakrishnan (DAP) said Chin should consider alternatives such as rain water harvesting and underground water sources to meet the soaring water demand.

“The RM9 billion water transfer project would take six years to be completed. However with the changing weather pattern, we do not know whether Pahang would have enough water resources then.

“If that happens, then the entire project would go to waste,” said Ramakrishnan who was flanked by fellow Pakatan senators Syed Husin Ali (PKR) and Tunku Abdul Aziz (DAP).

“Chin had mentioned the water transfer (issue) as non-negotiable. This is causing a bottleneck in negotiations between the federal government and the Selangor state government,” he said.

Don't pressure Selangor

In a written reply to the Dewan Negara on Dec 15, the minister had informed the august House that the water transfer project was a non-negotiable deal and the state government should work with the federal government to speed up the process.

Negotiations however ended in deadlock as the Selangor state government wanted to restructure the state's water assets first before discussing the water transfer project.

Echoing Ramakrishnan's sentiments, Senator Syed Husin Ali said the curernt situation will affect the public.

“Please do not use the water issue to pressure the state government,” he said.

Syed Husin also took a swipe at Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) chief executive officer, Rozali Ismail for pocketing RM425,000 monthly salary while the company is experiencing millions in losses.

“That was why Syabas wanted to increase tariff by 31% which caused the recent demonstration,” said Syed Husin referring to the Dec 5 rally protesting water tariff hikes at the National Mosque. Forty-seven people were arrested in the rally.