Water stalemate with S'gor solved, says Muhyiddin

The Selangor government has given its consent for the Langat 2 water treatment plant to be built in the state, bringing to an end an impassse on the matter between the state and the federal government.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, in disclosing this, said Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim gave the consent at the 5th National Waters Resources Council meeting in Putrajaya today.

According to him, Khalid had also expressed the hope that the matter be resolved urgently so as to avoid a water crisis in Selangor and the Federal Territories in the near future.

"The issue was not discussed in detail, but what is important is that all parties have agreed that this issue be resolved amicably.

"From what we know, there were differences in time projections of an impending water crisis in the two areas but now we have agreed that there need not be any dispute on this," he told reporters after chairing the meeting.

Muhyiddin said this when asked about the status of the project as there appeared to be stalemate on it between the federal government and the Selangor government.

"This is not a question of politics. It is about managing water for the people, so there need not be marked differences between what we (federal government) evaluate and that of the state government," he said.

The federal government is ruled by Barisan Nasional but the Selangor government by the Pakatan coalition, hence, the delay in getting agreement for the implementation of the project.

The Langat 2 plant will treat raw water supplied through a tunnel from Pahang and is said to be needed to meet the water needs of Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya till 2025.

Muhyiddin added that with all obstacles removed, the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry would be asked to go into overdrive mode to implement the project.

Others seen attending the meeting included Natural Resources and Environment Minister Douglas Uggah Embas; Works Minister Shaziman Abu Mansor, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Noh Omar; Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob; Johor Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman; Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir; Melaka Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

- Bernama