Chin tries to avoid Selangor-Syabas litigation

Chin said a lawsuit would harden the stance of both parties. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 17 — Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui has called on both the Selangor government and water companies in the state to “give and take” as a final gesture to resolving the present impasse.

Should the Selangor government take legal action against Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas), it would jeopardise efforts for direct negotiations to take over water assets in the state from the players, he told Bernama.

“My view is that if there is a chance to resolve the issues amicably, then you should still go ahead to pursue that.

“I know it is not simple but you also need to remember this is not a shut-and-open type case as it involves contractual rights and differences in what is considered a holistic approach,” he said.

He said the Selangor government should not resort to any legal action against Syabas when it had been given the approval by the federal government to discuss the possibility of acquiring the four water players in Selangor.

The four water players are Syabas, Puncak Niaga (M) Sdn Bhd, Syarikat Pengeluar Air Sungai Selangor Bhd and Konsortium Abass Sdn Bhd.

“By going to court, it would mean that your positions are fixed. You are asking the court to make a decision when both Selangor and Syabas should work on a win-win outcome.

“A win-win outcome is possible if we do not have a very rigid approach to it,” Chin said.

On Wednesday, Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said the state government was waiting for the right time to take Syabas to court to have its water distribution licence withdrawn.

He alleged that Syabas’s Tabung Budi programme was a violation of the water concession agreement. — Bernama