The Selangor government has set up a special committee that will attempt to complete the restructuring exercise of the state’s water services industry by the end of next month.
Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said the four water concessionaires in the state would be called up to resolve their takeover at a reasonable market price.
“To speed up the process, the state government has set up a special committee headed by the state secretary to finalise the takeover by September.
“If the concessionaires do not agree to the value offered, they can refer to an independent arbitrator who will decide on an appropriate valuation. The state government will abide by the decision made by the arbitrator,” he said in a statement Thursday.
Khalid said he welcomed the Federal Government’s statement calling for the state government to implement the restructuring in line with the Water Services Industry Act.
The Special Cabinet committee on Selangor water issues, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, had announced on Wednesday that Selangor could implement the restructuring scheme implemented in other states as long as it complied with the Water Services Industry Act 2006, all concessionaire agreements and existing laws.
Khalid said the state government would also submit proposals to the National Water Management Commission (SPAN), Pengurusan Aset Air Berhad (PAAB) and the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry to ensure the process of leasing the state’s water assets and takeover of liabilities from the water industry was resolved simultaneously.
