PUTRAJAYA: The concession agreement between the Selangor state government and Puncak Niaga Holdings Bhd that was signed on the eve of the general election is still relevant, said Energy, Water and Telecommunications Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor.
The agreement for the operation and maintenance of the Sungai Sireh water treatment plant was a valid agreement unless the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) declares it null and void, he said.
"The agreement is lawful as long as it is accepted by SPAN. It is still relevant unless SPAN declares it null and void," he said.
Shaziman also said that the Selangor Government's decision to waive charges for the first 20 cubic metres of water used by households was not a good idea, as people would tend to waste water.
In fact, he said, the water usage in Selangor, which was about 240 litres per person, was higher than the national average of 180 litres.
"Free water will encourage people to waste water, a vital commodity that Selangor would be facing a critical shortage of; and that is why the Government decided on the water transfer project from Pahang to Selangor," he said.
He said the new state government had not presented the ministry with a concrete proposal on the free water, adding that such plans would be feasible if the "state government has tonnes of money."
Shaziman was speaking to reporters Tuesday after taking over from his predecessor Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik at the ministry here.
When asked on the electricity tariff, he said as long as gas and oil prices remained the same, there was no reason for the Government to increase the electricity tariff but what was vital was managing the demand for energy.
He also hoped that the whole of Sabah would be provided with electricity by 2010.
No comments:
Post a Comment