Minister: Peak level at dams can't solve water crisis

Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Peter Chin has dismissed Selangor exco members Ronnie Liu and Dr Xavier Jeyakumar's claims that the peak water levels at the Selangor dams show no water shortage in the state.

Without naming the duo, Chin said the water supply is not an issue that can be simplified.

"We have to be careful in managing this water issue, its not so simple like saying 'oh the dams are full therefore why worry?'.

"Yes, the dams are full but you want to drink that water or not? You want to drink the river water or not?

"Yes, there is water, but it's not safe to drink," Chin (left) told a press conference after launching the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) Green Award this afternoon.

Last month, Liu and Xavier had visited several dams in Selangor. They said the water levels at all seven dams are at peak capacity, delivering a warning to the state water concessionaire Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) not to manufacture a water crisis.

However, Chin responded today by pointing out that the critical thing in solving this "water crisis" is not water in the dams but treatment plants.

He explained that some of the treatment plants are operating beyond their capacity while the under used ones are unable to ease the problem as both are not connected.

Therefore, he reiterated that the federal government will proceed with the Langat 2 plant construction plan.

"We have made a decision in the sense that the Attorney General has given his legal opinion so we will proceed with advertising for the tenders," he said, referring to yesterday's cabinet committee on the Selangor water issue meeting.

However, he said full details will only be revealed to the public in an official statement next week.

"The decision is we will proceed, and this is because if we don't proceed with the Langat 2 plant, we will definitely face a water crisis by 2014 or 2016," he added.