The Federal Government hopes that the Selangor Government will be practical and pragmatic in resolving the state’s water issues.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the Selangor Government should not turn the crisis into a political issue.
“This is not a concern for Selangor and the Federal Territory only, but involves a large section of the population and consumers besides the industrial and commercial sectors.
“Don’t turn the problem into a political issue or make nonsensical threats,” he said when commenting on the statement by Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, who reportedly gave an ultimatum to the Federal Government as a condition to continue the Sungai Langat Water Treatment Plant 2 (Langat 2).
In Miri, Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin said water rationing might be necessary in the Klang Valley.
“The demand is very high but the capacity to produce water has not improved.
“Water rationing may have to be imposed where the treatment plants do not have enough capacity,” he said.
In Puchong, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said the people should not be punished over the incompetence of the Pakatan Rakyat state government in solving the crisis.
He added that the state should go back to the water concessionaire and the Federal Government to resolve the issue.
“In order to cut losses from non-revenue water by just 10 per cent and increase water production to 500 million litres a day (MLD), it is estimated that it would cost RM6bil to RM7bil.
“On the other hand, it will just cost RM8.9bil to construct the Langat 2 treatment plant and it can produce 1,130 MLD.
“Which do you think is more feasible?” he said in response to the Selangor Government’s stance over the Langat 2 plant.
In Klang, Selangor Barisan Nasional coordinator Datuk Seri Mohd Zin Mohammed urged the Selangor Government not to “play games” and take action to resolve the issue.
He said the state government should lift the freeze on the capital expenditure (capex) against all water concessionaires so that upgrading works could be carried out.
Selangor Plantation Workers, Poverty and Compassionate Government Committee chairman Dr Xavier Jayakumar said there was more than enough raw water in the state and it was just a matter of treating the water.
