‘Penalise Syabas for manufacturing water crisis’

DAP's Charles Santiago says this is based on the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry's admission that there is no need for water rationing.

PETALING JAYA: Klang MP Charles Santiago wants Selangor water provider Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) to be penalised for manufacturing a water crisis.

“Syabas must face the music for manufacturing a water crisis. They are culpable for creating a crisis with strong support from the federal government,” said the DAP leader.

He was responding to The Star’s report today that quoted the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry as saying that there was no need for water rationing now to avoid a water crisis.

The ministry added that although water rationing was not necessary as yet, the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) had been asked to identify areas that frequently experienced water disruption and prepare a contingency plan for these areas.

“SPAN has identified several areas that experience water disruptions as the water reserve is at a very low level,” the daily quoted the ministry as saying.

The newspaper also reported that open tender bidding for the Langat 2 dam would begin next month.

Santiago justified his call for penalising Syabas, stating: “The ministry’s statement is a clear admission that there is no crisis and yet Syabas is holding the people to ransom.”

He also claimed that the cabinet committee led by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was set to manipulate the situation for the construction of Langat 2.

The water crisis began early this month with Syabas claiming that the treated water level was below normal hence the need for a new dam.

This claim was however refuted by the Selangor state government who countered that Syabas was underperforming.

Following that a cabinet committee led by Muhyiddin was formed to resolve the issue.