Selangor sets up special panel to take over water concession

The Selangor government makes the move to acquire the four water concession companies.

SHAH ALAM: A special committee, which is led by Selangor state secretary Muhammad Khusrin Munawi has been set up to finalise plans to take over four water concession companies in Selangor by next month, Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said.

The four companies are Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas), Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd (PNSB), Syarikat Pengeluaran Air Sungai Selangor Sdn Bhd (SPLASH) and Konsortium ABASS.

The take-over will be done based on the most reasonable market price, Abdul Khalid said in a statement here today.

“If the concession holders rejected the offered price, they can take the matter to an independent arbitrary body that will decide the suitable price.

“The state government will adhere to the decision made by the independent arbitrary body,” he said.

Abdul Khalid said the state government would also submit its proposal to the National Water Management Commission (SPAN), Pengurusan Aset Air Berhad (PAAB) and the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry to ensure that the water asset leasing process and the take-over of the liability of water industry in the state be resolved simultaneously.

At the same time, he said the monitoring activities mounted by the water supply monitoring committee on Syabas would continue as usual.

- Bernama