SHAH ALAM, 17 Mar: Pakatan Rakyat (PR) claimed that the Federal Government has betrayed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Selangor Government by refusing to use the Water Services Industry Act (WSIA) to solve disputes on the water management in the state.

Pakatan leaders Rafizi Ramli, Tony Pua and Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, in a joint statement, said that the WSIA should be used to acquire the water concessionaires in Selangor.

“This is a betrayal of the agreement made with the State Government. The decision to turn back on the agreement is unacceptable and shocking,” they said in a statement this morning.

Last Friday, the Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water, Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili, said that at the moment, Putrajaya will not be using the WSIA to take over the water concessionaires in Selangor.

To date, three concessionaires, Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd (PNSB), Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) and Syarikat Pengeluar Air Selangor Holdings (Splash) have yet to agree with the takeover offer of RM9.65 billion despite the MoU being signed between Selangor and Putrajaya on 26 February.

In fact, Dr Maximus personally promised to use the WSIA to force the concessionaires.

“The offer was rejected by the concessionaires. The Federal Government has failed to fulfil their responsibilities of urging concessionaires to accept the offer made,” the statement said.

In regards to that, Pakatan urged the state government, led by the Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, to not give approval for the construction of the Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant.

“We will urge the Selangor Government, Executive Councillors and State Legislative Assemblies to delay the remaining approvals needed for the Langat 2 project.

“There is no legal requirement for the State Government to meet the terms in the MoU when the Federal Government has failed to show their commitment,” they said.