13 Aug is D-Day for the people, Kit Siang
Fadzmel Fadzil, Malay Mail Online
On 13 Aug, PAS leaders will meet to determine whether to support Khalid Ibrahim as MB or not. When YB Lim Kit Siang said it is D-Day for Pakatan’s future, he is wrong. It is actually D-Day for the people in Selangor.
What many people are not aware of or refuse to admit is that the water deal is still at risk. The Selangor State Government can still pull the carpet on the water asset restructuring deal. In layman’s term, if you are still ignorant about the political circus in Selangor, it means that you and I won’t have enough treated water to drink or shower if Pakatan Rakyat decides to bring politics into the water deal.
Most of you don’t know what the Prime Minister actually said last year when he was informed about the looming water crisis that will hit Selangor in 2014. I overheard a conversation between two gentlemen who walk in the corridors of Putrajaya.
The Prime Minister was upset that the economy in Selangor will be badly affected and the people will not have water. He warned his people in Putrajaya and said he does not want to see anyone playing politics in this water resource management. This message was made clear in meetings between Federal and the State. In other words, he wants the people in Selangor to have sustainable treated water supply regardless of the cost, time and effort.
Khalid understood that the State is in a crisis and will remain so for many years. He knew that he listened to the wrong people in 2010.
On 26 Feb 2014, the MoU on Selangor’s water assets was signed between the Federal Government and State Government. Khalid’s team then handed over the planning approval for six work packages that were required in order for part of Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant construction to begin.
While the smarter-than-a-5th grader Rafizi Ramli was busy executing his Kajang Move, Khalid Ibrahim and Federal Minister Maximus Johnny Ongkili did not waste any time. Construction works for Langat 2 Plant began as early as 30 April 2014.
Surely, this means that there’s no turning back? No, you are wrong.
Only six out of 10 work packages have received approval from the local councils. The rest are still “work in progress” by both Federal and State. If the State falls into the wrong hands, he or she can still sabotage the project and the water asset restructuring deal.
So does it mean we should tell PAS to stick with Khalid Ibrahim?
As part of the MoU, Selangor’s investment arm — Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Berhad — made an offer of RM9.65 billion to takeover the 4 water assets in Selangor — SYABAS, SPLASH, PNSB, and ABASS. Till today, SPLASH did not accept the takeover offer due to the State’s valuation figures. Reports said SPLASH wants RM2.5 billion but State is willing to pay only 10 per cent of that.
Just in case you don’t know, SPLASH has three major shareholders — Gamuda, KDEB and The Sweet Water Alliance. The Sweet Water Alliance is owned by Tan Sri Wan Azmi Wan Hamzah. What’s even sweeter is he also sits in the Board of Director in Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s think tank — Institut Rakyat.
But that’s fine. What’s more important for the 7.2 million people in Klang Valley is that SPLASH manages and operates Sungai Selangor Dam and Sungai Tinggi Dam. And where are we?
The water level as at 7 Aug 2014 in Sungai Selangor dam, which supplies to 62 per cent of Klang Valley’s water requirement, has dropped from 37.09 per cent during the water rationing exercise to 31.97 per cent and Sungai Tinggi from 63.25 per cent to 45.15 per cent.
Everyone knows that SPLASH is not happy with the offer under this water asset restructuring deal by State Government. Since they manage and operate the Sg Selangor Dam and Sg Tinggi Dam, I can only hope that there are enough laws in the country to make sure that Klang Valley is not at anyone’s mercy. The Federal Government must protect the interest of the people in the event that this gets out of control.
Whatever decision PAS makes on 13 Aug, it will be D-Day not for Pakatan Rakyat but for the people. I can’t wait for GE14.
