SHAH ALAM, 5 May: The statement by the President of the Malaysian Association of Water and Energy Research (AWER) that the State Government is gambling with the fate of the people by stopping the water rationing although the level at dams have yet to reach 55 percent is unfounded.
The Executive Councillor for Youth and Sports, Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Dr Yunus Hairi, said that the statement issued by S Piarapakaran proves that he has not been updated on information from official sources.
He said that the statement is also seen as affecting the credibility of Piarapakaran and the non-governmental organisation (NGO) he represents.
“He should have researched on on-going efforts that the State Government is working on and will work on to increase the storage of raw water for the present and for usage until the drought predicted to take place until this September.
“We are also disappointed by the SInar Harian newspaper for not obtaining real clarification from the State Government. The false report could cause unrest to consumers in the Klang Valley,” he said at a press conference at the SUK Building today.
Yunus said that the State Government has also repeatedly stressed that Langat 2 is not the complete solution to the water shortage in the Klang Valley because the plant only supplies 1,000 million litres a day (MLD).
In addition, Yunus also dismissed allegations by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, regarding the issue that the water shortage was due to the free water policy adopted by the State Government and the refusal to increase water tariffs.
He said that the water shortage is due to the unusual drought.
“The provision of free water implemented by the State Government can actually save water.
“If the process is not beneficial, Johor would not have emulated Selangor to provide free water soon,” he said.
