C4 urges MB to disclose MOU contents

The Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) has called on the Selangor government to declassify its memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the federal government on its water restructuring exercise.

 

C4 director Cynthia Gabriel said that the signing of the MOU had brought more doubts and questions than relief, even though it has broken a five-year deadlock over the state’s water issues.

 

Therefore, she urged Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim to clear the air.

 

“As a leader who paved the way to uphold the right to information through the Freedom of Information Enactment during his first term as Menteri Besar of Selangor, it is imperative for him to exercise his integrity by disclosing full details of the contents of the MOU...

 

“(This is so that) all people of Selangor will be informed and be convinced that this deal is indeed in their interest, and that the rights to enjoy clean and uninterrupted water supply is duly protected,” she said in a statement today.

MOU leaked

 

The Selangor government and the federal government had inked the deal last Wednesday, putting to rest a long-standing stalemate between the two.

 

Under the MOU, the Selangor government gets the go-ahead to takeover its four water concessionaires as part of its water industry restructuring exercise, while the federal government would obtain the state government’s clearance to build the Langat 2 water treatment plant.

 

However, the contents of the MOU has yet to be made public, although a copy has been circulated over the internet.

 

The sudden move had also caught Pakatan Rakyat leaders by surprise, including party leaders such as PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

 

According to Kelana Jaya MP Wong Chen who had attended Khalid’s briefing on the MOU’s contents, Khalid’s staff replied that the document is ‘secret’.

 

“Nevertheless he (Khalid) said he will use his powers as menteri besar to make it available for all very soon,” said Wong.