Malaysia’s national water asset company, PAAB, has issued the first of more than 20 tenders for a new water treatment plant despite ongoing bickering between the Federal Government and the state of Selangor. Tenders will be accepted from Malaysian firms for the RM6 billion project, which includes a tunnel to carry water in from Pahang, until 20 November.
The federal government predicts that the state will face a water shortage by 2016 without the treatment plant and tunnel, but the state government has said that the water supply problems should be solved by restructuring the industry and minimizing wasted water. About 30 per cent of the treated water is currently lost due to leaks or non-payment, and the water consumption of Malaysians is substantially higher than in surrounding countries. They use an average of 226 litres each day, compared to 154 litres in Singapore and 90 litres in Thailand.
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