The residents of Happy Mansion, a privately-owned apartment complex, in Section 17 were bewildered early morning yesterday by the sight of more than 300 people, mostly unknown faces, congregating around the compound; awaiting their turns to fill the water containers from several mobile water tankers. A production crew was filming the entire process; to create a 40 s infomercial regarding the water supply of Selangor.

Further investigations have shown that the production was allegedly paid for by certain leaders from the Barisan National. Some residents had informed us that the crowd was paid RM50/each to participate in the production, while the JMB was given RM7500 for permission to use the place. Food was ample for those involve in the production.

I denounced this act of concocting a water shortage in the state of Selangor. There have been no incidences or reports of water shortages in the area. Since 2008, we'd assisted the residents of Happy Mansion to qualify for the state's free water program by converting centralized meter to individual meter. The residents are upset with the charade and are demanding an apology from the makers of the infomercial. This incident could potentially put a dark spot on the value of their properties owing to the negative perceptions created by the filming. If the allegations are true, Barisan National should strongly reprimand the leaders responsible for creating such malign infomercial. The people expect an honest government and an honest media.

The Pakatan Rakyat-led Selangor Government, under the leadership of MB Tan Sri Khalid, had fulfilled its promise to provide free water to the needy. Since implementation in 2008, over 92% of low cost apartments have gotten free water, and more than 1 million individual subscribers have benefited from the program. The Selangor Government had spent more than RM400 million in this program.

On the issue of treated water, the state water plants are capable of producing 4700 million litres per day (MLD) of treated water, whereas the daily demand of Selangor and KL averages around 3000 MLD. The Selangor government had repeatedly rebuked the necessity of the RM6 billion Langat 2 project. If SYABAS is unable to fulfill its contractual agreement of providing treated water to the people of Selangor, the state is willing to take over SYABAS to realize the responsibility. SYABAS currently owes more than RM2.8 billion to water treatment operators in the state.

I would like to urge the public to call, inform, and write to your Member of Parliament and let them know that you disapprove of such sandiwara.  The residents of Happy Mansion would like to know who instructed the filming of the infomercial. The film owners should be honest; come forward, and take responsibility over this fiasco.

Hee Loy Sian

MP Petaling Jaya Selatan