SHAH ALAM, JUNE 6th – The restructuring of the Selangor Water Industry can potentially solve obstructions to the water supply throughout the state as well as offer shares in the industry to the people.
This was planned following the positive feedback from the Federal Government to restart talks with the state to take over water management from four concessionaires.
Another topic up for discussion was the construction of a mega water treatment plant, Langat 2 which has been pushed for by the Federal Government. However, the State Government is advocating for the restructuring of the water industry before starting on other plans regarding the state’s water supply.
Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said that the state is expected to meet with the Ministry of Water, Energy and Green Technology to discuss the restructuring of the water industry latest by next week.
“Our feedback has been positive. They (the Ministry) also wants to hasten the meeting to solve the issue of rearranging the water industry and the Langat 2 project.”
“I have been informed that the meeting take place either within the week or next week,” Khalid informed in a press conference following an Exco meeting.
Khalid also added that the those sitting in the meeting would comprise himself, Senior Officer of State, State Secretary Datuk Khusrin Munawi as well as the Ministry Secretary.
Khaled hopes that the meeting will result in solving the technical issues and offer ideas to a mechanism that will make the water restructuring plan feasible.
The restructuring of the water industry process was initiated by the State Government last year in an attempt to take over supply operations, treatment and distribution from four private companies.
The acquisition of the water treatment and distribution operations in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya is aimed to ensure sufficient, continuous and affordable supply to the consumers.
The state government has offered RM9.65 bil to take over operations and have received positive feedback from the concessionaires in regards to the offer.
Among the four concessionaires are Syarikat Pengeluar Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (SPLASH), Konsortium ABBAS Sdn Bhd (ABBAS) and Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd who respectively run treatment on raw water.
Selangor Water Supply Company (SYABAS) is the last of the concessionaires and is responsible for the distribution of treated water in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
