Selangor Pakatan promises shares in water companies

In an attempt to counter the BN election manifesto for Selangor, the state Pakatan Rakyat is promising Selangorians shares in water companies if the coalition is mandated to govern the state for a second term.

Pakatan said it would complete the restructuring of the water concessionaires in Selangor, after which the people would be offered stakes in the companies that are taken over by the state.

"Water is held in trust by the state for its people. The people of Selangor will now own their own water," Selangor Pakatan chairperson Abdul Khalid Ibrahim says in the manifesto that was launched tonight.

This will come on top of the 20 cubic metres of free water that the Pakatan state government has implemented in its five years in charge of the state - a promise that was made before the 2008 election.

The BN in its manifesto launched last night also promised 20 cubic metres of free water for Selangor residents, along with free conversion from bulk to individual water meters.

The conversion of meters was a prime reason why some Selangorians have been unable to enjoy the 20 cubic metres of free water implemented by the Pakatan government.

Pakatan is also promising to implement local government elections by carrying out a "gradual decentralisation" of the executive powers of the state authority.

It will aim to strengthen the role of the state assembly as well as introduce a Selangor Legislative Assembly Service Enactment.

The seven-page Pakatan manifesto focuses on building further the state government's policies that have been implemented over the last five years and generally offers extensions to the existing programmes.

This is in contrast with the host of the new promises that the BN made in its manifesto for the state.

BN chairperson Najib Abdul Razak is the election director for Selangor BN and is leading the charge to wrest back Malaysia's richest state from Pakatan.

Among the key pledges in the Pakatan Selangor manifesto are:

- RM100 million to establish a state housing development board;

- RM50 million a year for a people's housing scheme to help those who have difficulty securing loans;

- An annual allocation of five percent of the state reserves to lifelong learning programmes to enhance the skills and academic qualifications of the people;

- RM300 million for the Third Klang Bridge;

- An intergrated public transportation terminal for Shah Alam;

- Free public transportation within Shah Alam, Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya, Klang and Kajang;

- Land ownership grants for those who qualify and have stayed in their places for more than 12 years.

- Developing Malay reserve land in a well planned manner to increase its value;

- Protection for Orang Asli customary land;

- Establishment of a state-level halal hub;

- Tightening of laws on hill slope developments; and

- Setting up of nurseries and kindergartens in all state premises within five years.