SHAH ALAM, Aug 29 — The Selangor state government will announce its latest offer to buy all four water concession companies in the state in two weeks’ time said Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.
Khalid, who did not reveal the offer amount, said the takeover was made based on a reasonable market price.
“The takeover was needed to implement a restructuring plan for the water supply industry in Selangor,” he told reporters after chairing a weekly Exco meeting at the State Secretariat Building here today.
The four water concession companies in Selangor are Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas), Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd (PNSB), Syarikat Pengeluaran Air Sungai Selangor Sdn Bhd (Splash) and Konsortium ABASS.
The state government had before this offered more than RM9 billion to take over all assets and liabilities of the companies, including their bonds.
On the issue of subsidy for the first 20 cubic metres of free water, which was not enjoyed by a large portion of Selangor residents using bulk meters, Khalid (picture) said Syabas should resolve the matter by changing bulk meters to individual meters.
On Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s (PKR) manifesto, which promised free domestic consumption water supply to every Selangor resident but did not state whether bulk and personal meters would be used, Abdul Khalid said: “It is a manifesto and not a promise.”
The mentri besar said he had no objections if Selangor residents, who did not enjoy the free water subsidy, wanted to go to court with their claim.
In another development, Khalid said Selangor would consider introducing anti-hopping laws in the state like Penang if the coalition’s leaders agreed to them. — Bernama
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