Husam breaks rank, slams Kelantan gov't over timber deal

Former senior state executive councillor Husam Musa broke rank to criticise the Kelantan government in the state assembly today over a logging approval in the Ulu Sat Permanent Forest Reserve, Machang and water tariff hike in August.

Describing the decisions as inappropriate and deviated from the concept of transparency and integrity, Husam (PAS-Salor) claimed that a 1,400ha concession area in the forest reserve would be awarded to a company soon.

He said when Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat(left) was the menteri besar, logging applications for any parts of the Ulu Sat Permanent Forest Reserve placed as production forest had to be tendered.

"If I could recall, according to Tok Guru (Nik Aziz), the Ulu Sat and Cabang Tongkat forests are lungs that produce fresh and clean air for the people of Kelantan. 

"Let it remain that way for our children," he said during debate on the 2014 Budget.

Husam, who was state economic, finance and welfare committee chairperson, said awarding a large tract of land to a company without a tender was very dubious.

"During Tok Guru administration, such a big area would not have been awarded to an individual just over a simple two-page application and promptly considered," he said.

On the water tariff hike, he said it could have been avoided if Syarikat Air Kelantan Sdn Bhd (AKSB) was prudently managed.

He said AKSB also failed to improve water quality and quantity although several water treatment plants had been upgraded.

Husam said although RM21 million was spent to upgrade the Jeli Water Treatment Plant to enable it to produce 10 million litres of water per day (MLD), it could only produce 6.6 MLD.

He said the Bukit Remah plant in Tanah Merah was upgraded at the cost RM16.4 million could only produce 36.6 MLD instead of 42 MLD as targeted while the Pintu Geng plant, upgraded at the cost of RM52 million, could only produce 12.5 MLD, a far cry from its target of 30 MLD.

Husam said despite spending RM130 million to repair burst pipes until July, non-revenue water (NRW) rate was still at 52 per cent.

He also expressed his disappointment as the state government had terminated a contract awarded to a South Korean contractor for the construction of the people's highway which was initiated by him and approved two years ago.

- Bernama