Selangor water: Game of chicken is scaring residents?

BN VIEWPOINT THERE is so much news of an impending water problem in the Klang Valley that it got me worried. I am not sure if it will be due to less rain, more development or politics -- or all of the above.

In the Klang Valley the threat of water shortage began in 2008 when the Pakatan Rakyat government decided to take on the water companies, alleging they were inefficient and were getting sweetheart deals from the federal and previous state governments.

While the current state government is not responsible for higher water consumption, it nevertheless can be taking us to a water crisis in a hand basket.

The decision by the Selangor government to give free water soon after getting sworn into office in 2008 was the beginning of the politicising of water, just as some would politicise religion or education.

The desire of Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim to impress the people of Selangor, and score political points, too, with benevolence is understandable. What better way to do so than with free water.

Khalid often claims that the free water does not see an increase in usage. That may be true, but he misses the point, entirely.

Water is a finite and valuable resource. Even if we can afford to give it away for free, we must not, since it will lessen its value to some people. Furthermore, it costs money to treat and make water potable, and people must know so.

An irony in the Selangor free water initiative is that many of those living in low-cost flats, for example, do not benefit from it, while those who can afford homes, do.

The standoff with the water companies and the Federal Government has a populist ring to it and would of course be politically rewarding. Selangor also put on hold several water-related projects on the premise of protecting the state from unfair deals.

It has been four years of relative inactivity, water-wise. At the same time the Klang Valley has expanded by dramatic proportions. Puchong, for instance, has turned into a major residential and commercial area, rivalling Subang Jaya, which is also expanding. Everywhere, new residential, commercial and industrial developments have, and are taking place.

As a result, the carrying capacity of the greater Klang Valley, with a population some estimate to be close to eight million, that is the heartbeat of the nation, is being stretched.

For water especially, this can already be felt by long-time residents who are experiencing lower water pressure these days. Some reports suggest if the margin of reserve is as thin as it is now, and if drought were to hit us, then we would be in trouble. The massive water shortage of the late 1990s is also fresh in our minds.

Khalid and his supporters on the other hand claim that there is no such thing as a water problem in Selangor and that the scaremongering is the work of political opponents. The claim that the Klang Valley would have a water crisis by 2014 is also a cry wolf.

Regardless, logic has it that if demand keeps increasing and supply were to remain the same, at some point, we would be in trouble.

At the moment I do not really care who is right or wrong. The state's steadfastness over the issue is no longer admirable, but is verging on foolhardiness.

Stop politicising water. Klang Valley residents should not have to pay for political grandstanding, by anyone. This high-stake game of chicken, waiting for who will blink first is getting close to ridiculous -- especially with the prospect of dry taps for millions of people.

- New Straits Times