Selangor to grant Putrajaya access to land in tanked water exercise, says minister

Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili says he is confident that a new document will be signed between the federal government and Selangor on the water restructuring in the state. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, March 25, 2015.

Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili said the Selangor government had granted the federal government access to land where the pipes were located following a tanked water deal.

"There is no revision and we have to stick to the agreement (master water agreement).

"I also understand that they (Selangor) will give us access to the land," said Ongkili, expressing confidence that a new document with minor adjustments would be signed soon between the federal government and Selangor on the water restructuring.

However, Ongkili was not able to give any time frame as to when this would happen. He said this to reporters outside Parliament building today when asked on the status of discussions between the federal government and Selangor after the extension to the master agreement lapsed.

Ongkili confirmed that officials from both sides had met last Monday and that there was no dispute over the ownership of the land where the water pipes are.

He added that the proposal by the federal government to lease the land where the pipes are from Selangor was no longer neccessary following the meeting and that it still remained under the ownership of the state.

He also said there would not be any revision to the price for the takeover of Selangor's water assets.

The Selangor state government has decided not to give the federal government a third extension for the recently lapsed master water agreement.

Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali had voiced his disappointment over the federal government's decision to not honour the master agreement signed by his predecessor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, saying that the ownership of the land where the water assets are was never in the master water agreement. – The Edge Financial Daily