Water deal sealed despite ongoing MB saga

The controversial deal to restructure the lucrative water industry in Selangor has just been sealed despite worries that it could be altered by a new state administration following the Selangor menteri besar crisis.

The signing ceremony took place at the Energy, Water and Green Technology Ministry in Putrajaya today between the Selangor government and Putrajaya.

Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim’s press secretary Arfa'eza Abdul Aziz tweeted two pictures of Khalid and the minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili shaking hands.

“@Khalid_Ibrahim sealed the Master Agreement ceremony with the KeTTHA minister Datuk Dr Max Ongkili,” she tweeted minutes ago.

The deal would take treatment and distribution operations in the RM30 billion industry out of the hands of three private companies and put them under a state government-controlled entity.

It would also give the Selangor government and Putrajaya powers to set rates for treated water for roughly seven million consumers in Selangor, Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur.

The deal would also mean that Putrajaya will get all the permits it needs to build the mammoth RM3.6 billion Langat 2 water treatment plant.

Selangor had, in the past, withheld approval for the project in order to get Putrajaya’s help to take over the three companies.

However, questions remain as to whether the new Pakatan Rakyat administration that would take over from Khalid’s exco would go ahead with all aspects of the agreement.

PR lawmakers such as Rafizi Ramli and Charles Santiago had in the past claimed that the deal was lopsided and suggested that the deal could be reviewed once a new menteri besar takes over.

Santiago had also questioned the legality of the deal as he claimed that Khalid was a “caretaker menteri besar”.

However, state legal adviser Datuk Nik Suhaimi Nik Sulaiman has clarified that Khalid still had all the rights to carry out his full duties as a menteri besar.

Khalid was sacked from his party, PKR, on August 9. PR parties are currently in negotiation with the Selangor Sultan over who will replace him as MB.

- TMI