‘RM800m for Selangor water treatment plants waste of funds’

BN reps say state government should not rush into approving two treatment plants but should complete Hybrid Off River Augmentation System (Horas) project in Bestari Jaya instead.

SHAH ALAM: The Selangor BN questioned the state government’s action in allocating RM800 million purely for the construction of two new water treatment plants to cater to demand for raw water supply.

BN Selangor Assemblymen Chief Coordinator Mat Nadzari Mat Dahlan described the construction as a waste of public funds following the delay in completion of the Hybrid Off River Augmentation System (Horas) project in Bestari Jaya.

He said the state government should not rush into approving the construction of the treatment plants in Jenderam Hilir, Semenyih and Labohan Dagang, Kuala Langat, but complete the Horas project first as it should have been operational last year.

“I wonder why they need hundreds of million more to build the plants. I want to know whatever happened to Horas? BN has been asking in the state assembly but this has not been answered.

“Do not waste public funds. By right, Horas should now be capable of supplying water, especially at a time when we are hit by extreme hot weather.

“I also want to ask if Horas is another white elephant,” he told reporters at the state assembly hall lobby here today.

Earlier, Mat Nadzari (BN-Batang Kali), while debating on the motion of thanks on the Sultan of Selangor’s address at the state legislative assembly, urged the state government to give an explanation on the Horas project but the Exco member responsible did not reply.

Instead, Ng Suee Lim (DAP-Sekinchan) got up and blamed the Federal Government for the water crisis in the Klang Valley. This angered Mat Nadzari.

Sulaiman Abdul Razak (BN-Permatang), in lambasting Ng, said the state government should admit its mistake as constant politicking over the Langat 2 construction had inconvenienced the people.

The Horas project, which started in March 2014 to increase water supply in the Klang Valley, especially during dry or drought seasons, involved the construction of a 166ha pond with a depth of 23.5 metres to harvest excess water from treatment plants, rainwater and ground water.

– BERNAMA