SPAN blames Syabas, weak enforcement for recent water cuts

PETALING JAYA: The National Water Services Commission (SPAN) today blamed the previous management of a concessionaire, among others, for the recent water cuts in the Klang Valley.

Its chairman, Charles Santiago, claimed there had been a lack of maintenance over the years by Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas), a subsidiary of Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Air Selangor). This, he said, led to the current water supply problems in Selangor.

In January, Air Selangor completed its takeover of four concessionaires and is now the sole water supplier in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.

Apart from Syabas, it also took over Puncak Niaga (M) Sdn Bhd, Konsortium ABASS Sdn Bhd and Syarikat Pengeluar Air Sungai Selangor Sdn Bhd.

Santiago said the machines used in treating and supplying water to households require regular servicing as they operate all year round, making them susceptible to wear and tear.

“Given that maintenance was not a culture we practised in this country, these machines encounter problems,” he told reporters after speaking at the Asia-Europe People’s forum here.

Charles Santiago.

When asked if a lack of proper maintenance was behind the scheduled water cuts in the Klang Valley, he said: “Primarily.”

However, he said the water pipes in the state also require an upgrade due to the increase in population, among other factors. Given the size of the water network, he said, such work would have to be done in stages.

Santiago also pointed the finger at poor enforcement by government agencies, weak implementation of rules and regulations, and what he called irresponsible quarters flouting the law.

“There is a need to rethink the way the nation manages the water in the country,” he added.

When asked if the management of water supply is better now under Air Selangor, Santiago said the concessionaire still had a lot of work to do.

“The mess they left behind is very big, so this is really cleaning house,” he said.

“What’s worse, I think a lot of these things were never anticipated. A lot of the problems we are dealing with are heritage problems.”

On a related matter, he said 98% of the nation’s water supply comes from rivers, the majority of which he believes have been polluted.

He said this means that a higher quality of chemicals will be needed to treat the water.

“And this comes at a greater cost.” - FMT