PETALING JAYA: Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has not been summoned by Keadilan chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to explain details of the Selangor-Putrajaya water deal, said Keadilan communications director Fahmi Fadzil.
Fahmi told The Star Online on Thursday that he had been informed that Khalid was preparing to make a presentation on the water industry restructuring exercise to all Pakatan Rakyat leaders soon.
“I know that he will be doing a briefing to all Pakatan Rakyat leaders within the next couple of days. I have been informed that his office has been making preparations to make this presentation,” said Fahmi.
He added that there had always been requests for more information on the water issue.
“There has always been a request for more information, more details about the water industry restructuring exercise. So I think all efforts to present the full picture of what is taking place is very much welcome,” said Fahmi.
Attempts to contact Khalid were unsuccessful.
However, a check of Anwar’s official Facebook page revealed the Permatang Pauh MP is currently in Japan, where he delivered a speech entitled “Muslim Democrat: The Case of Malaysia” at a Sasakawa Middle East Islam Fund event.
On Jan 19, Anwar arrived at Narita Airport, Tokyo from Kuala Lumpur but was denied entry by immigration officials after having failed to do the necessary paperwork for a convicted person and, so, was turned away.
On Wednesday, Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili and Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU).
The MoU which was witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin effectively breaks a five-year impasse that has stalled the implementation of water projects in the country’s most industrialised state.
Under the terms of the MoU, the Selangor Government will an undertaking to facilitate the implementation of Langat 2, the state has agreed to issue the Development Order and facilitate land acquisition for the construction of Langat 2, stalled since 2009.
The water treatment plant is an integral part of the RM8.65bil Pahang-Selangor Raw Water Transfer project that entails the transfer of water from Pahang to the Klang Valley.
In return for facilitating the implementation of Langat 2, the Federal Government will allocate RM2bil to the state to be used in the acquisition of the four water concessionaires operating in Selangor.
The four are Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd, Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd, Syarikat Pengeluar Air Selangor Sdn Bhd and Konsortium ABASS Sdn Bhd.
The Federal Government through the Pengurusan Aset Air Bhd (PAAB) has also allocated RM900mil for water mitigation initiatives in Selangor as an interim relief until Langat 2 is completed.
– THE STAR
