What has water crisis got to do with Langat 2 - Selangor wallops back at BN govt

PETALING JAYA - The looming water "crisis" surrounding the delayed construction of the Langat 2 water treatment plant is due to mismanagement and inefficiency of Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas).

State exco Dr Xavier Jayakumar told theSun that when the Langat 2 project was first discussed in 2008, it was with the understanding that the plant would come into operation in 2015.

"At no time was there a mention of a water crisis anywhere, not in 2008 and not in 2012.

"So if Syabas as the water supplier and distributor wants to say there is a huge water shortage in the area, it is purely its fault because we have more than enough untreated water around," he said.

The state government, through the Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS), controls the state's seven dams, and water levels were between 92% and 100% as of July 2.

"We only control the raw water in the state and there is more than enough, which means Syabas should be answering why it does not have enough treatment plants to provide clean water to the people, and why there is talk of water rationing today," he said.

Jayakumar further claimed it was irresponsible of Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin and Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Noh Omar to suggest that the state allow Langat 2 to be built first and discuss water tariff hikes later.

"Why waste RM8.65 billion of public funds, and allow a potential water tariff hike of up to 70% when the seven dams in Selangor are full and overflowing," he said, calling on Syabas to inform the state of the actual situation on the ground.

The Langat 2 plant has been a hot topic since it was approved by the federal government at a cost of RM3.94 billion, but was delayed after Selangor refused to approve the development order for various reasons.

Meanwhile, Deputy Foreign Minister A. Kohilan Pillay today said the federal government must force its hand in the building of the Langat 2 water treatment plant before the issue gets out of control.

Speaking to reporters after the Gerakan Selangor state delegates conference today, Kohilan said the delay in the construction of the plant was costing Malaysia around RM4 billion in potential revenue.

"The federal government needs to interfere and get the plant built, even if the Selangor government does not agree, before more damage is done.

"We are losing around RM4 billion, not just from job opportunities, but also from foreign investors and corporations, who are put off by the need to risk water shortage should they come in," he said.

-thesundaily