It is not proper for the Selangor government to give the federal government a 14-day "ultimatum" to reply to its letter on water restructuring for the state as the plan is a complex issue, Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Peter Chin said today.
"Matters raised in (Selangor Menteri Besar) Khalid Ibrahim's letter are much, much more complex and they involve a bigger aspect, monitoring policy and specific provision of funds.
"For all these areas, you cannot simply cannot give a dateline... (and say) if you don't reply by then, I will take it as you agree.
"I think that is not correct, it sorts of gives an ultimatum," Chin said
He said the federal government is still willing to talk with the Selangor government on the water restructuring plan.
"I am glad that Khalid said in yesterday's newspapers that he wants to talk to our (Deputy Prime Minister) Muhyiddin Yassin, who is the chairperson of the cabinet special committee on the water issue," Chin said.
"That is the sort of attitude that we should be promoting between the state and federal governments."
"Matters raised in (Selangor Menteri Besar) Khalid Ibrahim's letter are much, much more complex and they involve a bigger aspect, monitoring policy and specific provision of funds.
"For all these areas, you cannot simply cannot give a dateline... (and say) if you don't reply by then, I will take it as you agree.
"I think that is not correct, it sorts of gives an ultimatum," Chin said
He said the federal government is still willing to talk with the Selangor government on the water restructuring plan.
"I am glad that Khalid said in yesterday's newspapers that he wants to talk to our (Deputy Prime Minister) Muhyiddin Yassin, who is the chairperson of the cabinet special committee on the water issue," Chin said.
"That is the sort of attitude that we should be promoting between the state and federal governments."
‘Willing buyer, willing seller’
The Pakatan-controlled Selangor government has been in a feud with the federal government for the last four years over a series of issues related to Selangor’s water services, including the proposed take over by the state of Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas), which is controlled by pro-BN businessman Rozali Ismail.
The latest move by the Selangor government is to send a letter to the federal government to seek the latter’s endorsement of its water restructuring plan. The letter dated Sept 14 required the federal government to reply within 14 days or else it will be seen as having no objection to the plan.
Chin said the federal government will only give its endorsement if the restructuring plan was done on a “willing buyer, willing seller” basis.
“If they go on the approach of negotiating with the concessioners and buy them over, we have no problem. We have said that before many times.”
Meanwhile, commenting on the Pahang government’s threat that the state will consider reviewing the agreement to sell raw water to Selangor, the minister said this must be done legally.
“I do not know what is the legal aspects that will be involved, but if the Pahang government wants to terminate the agreement, they must inform us or at least must inform the National Water Services Commission (SPAN).”
The Pakatan-controlled Selangor government has been in a feud with the federal government for the last four years over a series of issues related to Selangor’s water services, including the proposed take over by the state of Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas), which is controlled by pro-BN businessman Rozali Ismail.
The latest move by the Selangor government is to send a letter to the federal government to seek the latter’s endorsement of its water restructuring plan. The letter dated Sept 14 required the federal government to reply within 14 days or else it will be seen as having no objection to the plan.Chin said the federal government will only give its endorsement if the restructuring plan was done on a “willing buyer, willing seller” basis.
“If they go on the approach of negotiating with the concessioners and buy them over, we have no problem. We have said that before many times.”
Meanwhile, commenting on the Pahang government’s threat that the state will consider reviewing the agreement to sell raw water to Selangor, the minister said this must be done legally.
“I do not know what is the legal aspects that will be involved, but if the Pahang government wants to terminate the agreement, they must inform us or at least must inform the National Water Services Commission (SPAN).”
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