Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali wants it in writing – Putrajaya's reasons its water restructuring agreement with the state cannot be declassified for public viewing.
Azmin said a written response was necessary for the state government to initiate discussions on steps to get the documents removed of its Official Secrets Act cover.
"I haven't received any letter. I want to see the response from Dr Maximus," Azmin said, referring to Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili, the minister of energy, green technology and water, who signed the water restructuring agreement with Azmin's predecessor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.
"The minister needs to explain why the federal government does not want to disclose the full agreement. Once we have that, we can proceed with further discussions," Azmin told reporters in Kuala Lumpur today.
Earlier today, Ongkili said the agreement would not be disclosed on the advice of the Attorney-General.
He said the water concession companies involved in the restructuring exercise had to give their consent in order for the agreement to be made public.
"We received advice from the A-G's Chambers and it is not the time yet to disclose the water agreement," he told reporters after an event at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre today.
"If the Selangor government wants the water agreement declassified so that the public can view it, it will need the agreement of all parties concerned, and there will be reasons why the disclosure cannot be made because it depends on discussions with the concession companies."
Ongkili added that there might be concerns about stock market speculation on the companies' shares.
The master agreement is aimed at taking over operations of the RM30 billion Selangor water industry from four private companies and returning it to public ownership.
The industry will now be run and controlled by state government entity, Air Selangor.
Of the four water concessionaires in Selangor, Syarikat Pengeluar Air Selangor (Splash) is the only company which has refused the initial buy-out.
Puncak Niaga, Syabas and Kumpulan Abass had agreed to the takeover which costs the state government RM7.8 billion.
- TMI
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