Minister to MB: Talk to water firms, not us

Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Peter Chin said the Selangor government's desire to acquire water supply companies in the state did not involve the federal government.

He said that there was no need for the state government to inform his ministry of the proposed acquisition and that his ministry had no powers to stop such a transaction.

"To me, this is a normal commercial offer which requires the agreement of the vendor and the purchaser.

"Thus, the menteri besar don't have to make this issue seem as though the federal government disagree with the state government making such an offer.

"Instead of talking about this to the media, the menteri besar should call the interested parties for negotiations," he said during a press conference in Putrajaya.

Yesterday, Selangor menteri besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said his administration aims to take over private companies which supplies water to the state within 14 days.

This follows a green light given by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who chairs the cabinet committee on water issues. Abdul Khalid also mentioned that Chin's ministry had been informed of the matter.

[More to follow]