The Selangor state government will not interfere in the tender process of the Langat 2 water treatment plant, but has reminded the federal government and potential contractors that it held the right under the Land Code to approve or reject development.
Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said the state government’s jurisdiction included giving planning approval and granting permission to enter the site.
“The move by the federal government (to start the tender process) falls under its purview.
“But we would like to remind those submitting their tenders and the federal government that the state government has some powers under the Land Code and we will exercise them responsibly,” he told reporters after chairing the state exco meeting on Tuesday.
He added that the state legal adviser had consulted the relevant lawyers before drafting the public statement about the powers of the state government on this matter.
Pengurusan Aset Air Bhd (PAAB) will start the development of the controversial RM3bil-Langat 2 water treatment plant by issuing its first tender document on Wednesday for the building of the plant.
The tender, which will be the biggest package, estimated at RM1.2bil, will be for the construction and completion of the 1,130MLD (million litres per day) Langat 2 water treatment plant - the most important component of the Langat 2 project.
On the move by 711 residents who filed a lawsuit against the state government and water concessionaire Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) and Khalid for not receiving free water under a scheme implemented by the state government, he said the issue would be a test case.
“We won’t block (the lawsuit). It is a test case that will provide the opinion of the court on public welfare.
“Just like BR1M (the federal government’s welfare programme), (we will know from the case) if the people who don’t meet the requirements are also eligible to receive,” he said.
