Selangorians say no to BN to resolve water crisis

Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua says Pakatan's thumping victory in Selangor shows that the public have no confidence in BN to resolve the water crisis.

SUBANG JAYA: The federal government should allow the Selangor government to take over water concessionaire Syabas because it has lost terribly in its bid to convince the Selangor people on its capability of resolving the water crisis.

Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua said despite the Selangor BN highlighting the water issue in the recently-concluded 13th general election, the coalition fared worse by losing eight additional seats.

“This means that the people of Selangor have spoken, and that they have no confidence in the BN federal government in resolving the water crisis.

“It is also an outright rejection of the mega-project proposed by BN, the Langat 2 Water Treatment Plan which is expected to cost in excess of RM8 billion,” he said.

Pakatan Rakyat, which is at loggerheads with the federal government over the acquisition of Syabas, retained Selangor by bagging 44 out of the 56 seats. Its popular votes also increased from 55.4% in 2008 to 59.4% in 2013.

Pua said Pakatan’s victory showed that the Selangor people have agreed with the state government that there are effective and cheaper alternatives to increase water supply in Selangor.

He said given the ongoing water disruptions that affect thousands of residents in Subang Jaya since Wednesday, it became even pressing for the state to acquire Syabas and restructure the water service industry.

However, Selangor government cannot do so without the consent from the federal government which had collectively signed the tri-parte concession with Syabas.

Pua urged the newly-minted Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Maximus Ongkili to exercise his power to enforce the return of the water concessions to the state.

Meanwhile, Subang Jaya assemblywoman Hannah Yeoh who was also at the press conference cast aspersion on the water disruptions in the area which she said could be a “manufactured water crisis”.

“At first they said it was due to excessive water usage, but it has happened before that they can pull water from elsewhere. Then they said it is because of the dry spell, but now it has been raining for a few days,” she said.

“Is it because they are about to announce the tender for Langat 2 plant, so they manufacture the crisis so people will embrace their decision?” she said, adding that the federal government insists in constructing the water treatment plan which Selangor government deems as unnecessary.