The Selangor Government is firm on its stand that restructuring the water industry in the state is the best way forward to ensure continuous supply to consumers.
Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said the state government was still putting the plan for the Langat 2 water treatment plant on hold as it would incur a high cost, which would eventually be borne by consumers.
“Restructuring and returning the water industry to the state government is the best way to solve this issue as the issue here is about treatment plants that are not properly managed.
“This is a clear indication that privatisation is not always the better choice,” he said after a water forum here yesterday.
Khalid said his officers would be meeting the Federal Government again to convince it to restructure the water industry in accordance with the Water Services Industry Act 2006.
While it would seem that the stalemate between the state and Federal Government over the best way to supply water to consumers in the Klang Valley was set to continue, Khalid said he was looking into extracting underground water, reducing non-revenue water and rainwater harvesting as potential sources.
“Countries like Switzerland and Denmark rely on underground water but we will need to study this carefully because there are non-governmental organisations opposed to this idea.
“We will also hold a public forum to explain this matter,” he said.
On rainwater harvesting, Khalid said he would be meeting house buyers and developers about complying with the “green building index”.
Homes would have to have water-efficient plumbing fixtures such as a rainwater harvesting system, said Khalid.
He also emphasised that efforts should be made to conserve water and manage demand.
Asked if he would take legal action against Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui for failing to impose his ministerial power to transfer the water assets, Khalid said: “We have not come to that bridge yet.
“We prefer international arbitration.”
