Malaysian Insider, May 18, 2011
The Selangor mentri besar said the construction of water treatment plants on Sungai Langat, or Langat 2, will be discussed at the meeting. — file pic
KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 — Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said today that the state government has agreed to hold another round of talks over the stalled water restructuring issue with the federal government.
Both the state and federal governments have been locked in a struggle over water assets in Selangor since Pakatan Rakyat (PR) took control of the state in 2008, with neither side wanting to give the other control over the critical industry.
Khalid said that a letter would be sent to the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology, and Water regarding the special meeting due to take place in the first week of June.
“The state executive council agreed today to hold a special meeting to discuss restructuring the water industry with the federal government.
“This special meeting will be held during the first week of June and the agenda includes the construction of water treatment plants on Sungai Langat or Langat 2 where the state government will decide whether it should issue a directive on its construction,” he told reporters during a press conference.
In January, Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin announced that the Selangor government had promised in December last year to allow the federal government to build Langat 2, which is part of the Pahang-Selangor water transfer project.
Chin had said his ministry would put the project out to tender by February at the very latest despite the absence of written approval from the state.
The Selangor government immediately denied giving Putrajaya the go-ahead for the Langat 2 water treatment plant.
State government sources revealed that Selangor, in its December 8 meeting with the ministry, had only agreed to study the “critical path” for both the Langat 2 and Pahang-Selangor water transfer projects before making a decision this month.
The Critical Path Method, developed in the 1950s, is an important tool in project management for scheduling project activities.
The Energy Minister has said that the RM8.65 billion water-transfer project must be completed by 2014 to ensure adequate water supply for residents in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
Khalid, however, has argued that there is no rush to complete the Pahang-Selangor transfer as the state has enough water to fulfil residents’ needs until 2019.
Today, Khalid reiterated that priority should be given to consolidating Selangor’s water players and not to the Langat 2 project, calling for both issues to be discussed jointly.
“The Selangor government will continue to cooperate with all parties and does not object to the construction of Langat 2, but believe that this project should be done after the restructuring of the water industry is resolved,” he added.
Chin warned the Selangor government last year it risked legal action by delaying construction of the water treatment plant, which had been scheduled to begin in August last year.
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