Sultan yet to give nod for discussion on Talamgate

(The Star) - The Selangor Sultan has yet to give his royal consent for a special state assembly meeting, indicating that the discussion on the Talamgate and water issues would be held at the same sitting as the state Budget's announcement on Nov 19.

Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah had yet to decide on the special meeting but has consented to the one on Nov 19 to table the state Budget.

“We will abide by whatever the Sultan says. In fact, some of the state representatives have also expressed the view that the special sitting is not necessary,” Khalid told reporters after meeting state heads of departments here yesterday.

The state government was hoping to hold the special sitting two weeks before Nov 19 to discuss the White Paper on the Talam debt recovery and water restructuring exercise as well as the number of new voters in the state, which Khalid had labelled as “suspicious”.

(A White Paper is a government or other authoritative report on a major issue that provides information or proposals on it).

On July 3, MCA Young Professionals Bureau Chief Datuk Chua Tee Yong had challenged the Selangor Government to explain how its exercise to recover a RM392mil debt from Talam ended in questionable deals worth over RM1bil.

The state government is said to have obtained a grant of RM392mil and acquired additional assets worth RM284mil from Talam, bringing the total acquisition to RM676mil. This RM676mil purchase of assets was said to be part of the RM1bil deal.

On a separate matter, Khalid said he would speak with Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on a proposal from a Canadian company on membrane technology to ease an impending water shortage in the state.

He claimed that the technology would produce the same results at a fraction of the cost of the multi-billion ringgit Langat2 project.

“Membrane technology will generate one million litres of treated water per day, which would be the same as the Langat 2 treatment plant when it is completed.

“Besides, the implementation of the membrane technology would cost not more than RM800mil compared to the cost of Langat 2, which is about RM2.5bil to RM3bil.”