Water issue: Ministry denies Azmin's claim

The Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry (KeTTHA) today refuted Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali's claim that it was the federal government that refused to hand over the Langat 2 treatment plant to Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Air Selangor).

KeTTHA in a statement today pointed out that the cabinet on Feb 28 decided that partial handover of the treatment plant (LRAL2) by Pengurusan Aset Air Berhad (PAAB) to Air Selangor would be made only after the Selangor government had finalised the water supply restructuring scheme in the state.

“The federal government sees the water supply restructuring as the best way for PAAB to develop water assets to address the issue of treated water reserve margin which is between zero and three percent.

“It is also fair for PAAB, as the owner of LRAL2, to reclaim their investment of RM3.7 billion for construction of the plant through lease rental to be paid by Air Selangor,” the ministry said.

Azmin was reported by media to have said during the Selangor state assembly sitting on March 28 that the federal government was preventing Selangor from providing clean water to consumers.

According to the media reports, Azmin said the federal government on March 20 made a decision to disallow Air Selangor from supplying treated water from LRAL2 to consumers in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.

KeTTHA further pointed to the Selangor government’s commitment to repay PAAB the RM1.6 billion it borrowed in the takeover of Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd, Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd and Konsortium ABASS Sdn Bhd, and RM6 billion to Water Bond Selangor.

“The Selangor government must act immediately to finalise the restructuring of the water supply that would enable the people in Selangor to enjoy 565 MLD of clean water and at the same time raise the treated water reserve margin in Selangor,” said the ministry.

Meanwhile, KeTTHA said water supply in Selangor could be managed more efficiently through monitoring by the National Water Services Commission (Span), which would enable Air Selangor as service licence holder to concentrate on enhancing the quality of its services to consumers.

-- Bernama