Noh: Without water, Selangor will continue to be backwards

Selangor BN fears that continued water shortages in Malaysia's most-developed industrial state will have grave future economic consequences.

“If this is not handled, Selangor will continue to be backwards,” warned its deputy chief, Noh Omar (right) when met in Shah Alam today.

“Investors will not come without water. A lot of factories cannot be built because of the water shortage. This means loss of jobs for Selangor youths.”

Speaking after accompanying Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on a walkabout at a local primary school, Noh chastised what he believed is the short-sightedness of the Pakatan-led state which refused to work with water concessionaire, Syabas and the federal government on a solution.

This, he said, differed from the BN government whose foresight had planned the Langat 2 water treatment plant since 16 years ago, quoting a National Water Council briefing session.

The plan he added, had even garnered the support of the meticulous Japanese.

“The Japanese government, if they saw that the project is not viable, they would not have came aboard with us.”

Specifically, a Japanese development bank is funding the water transfer tunnel project which will channel water from neighbouring Pahang to be processed by the Langat 2 plant.

Quizzed about the Selangor government allegations that the recent water disruption in several Kuala Lumpur districts because of broken water pumps shows the technical incompetency of the firm, Noh maintained that the real problem is a lack of water resources while admitting that equipment woes are an issue, if only half the problem.

“It is not only the pumps, but also declining water levels,” he said.

The water issue erupted recently in Selangor as GE13 draws nearer, and is one of the points being used by BN to attack the Pakatan-led government.

Selangor: Syabas’ criminal negligence

Meanwhile state exco Xavier Jayakumar hit back at Syabas slamming the latter’s alleged negligence over the Wangsa Maju pump house, said to have caused the water shortage, asking how even standby pumps could be non-functional.
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“From the investigations of the state government, all five pump units (in Wangsa Maju) have broken down, including two ‘standby pumps’ that are also spoiled.

“It is doubtful that the two ‘standby pumps’ that are rarely used are also unable to function,” said Xavier in a statement today.

He said this showed Syabas’ negligence in maintaining its equipment on a timely basis.

“Syabas’ negligence has affected the livelihoods of over 60,000 residents in the affected areas.

“If Syabas is not capable of maintaining the pump house, the state government has no problem through the Urus Air Selangor (Luas) to take over operations of he pump,” he said.

He alleged that Syabas’ negligence as “sabotage” to spoil the state government’s reputation.

“The state government views Syabas’ failure in this matter as pure negligence and criminal in nature.

“This is among the reasons why Selangor wants to expedite the takeover of the water industry and water concessionaires, as it feels the present concessionaires such as Syabas is unable to supply water to the rakyat,” he said, adding that the concessionaire was only concerned with making profits.