S’gor MB chided for downplaying water woes
Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim has been criticised by a consumers association leader over his recent statement that he could wait even up to 100 years to resolve the state's water woes despite the looming water crisis by 2015.
Describing Khalid's statement as unprofessional, Consumers Association of Subang and Shah Alam (Cassa) president Jacob George said the state government was waging a political war against the federal government over the water issue.
"As the menteri besar, he should be more sensitive for Selangor water users were the ones at the receiving end because they had to endure the pain and sorrow," he said in an interview.
Khalid was reported as saying that the Selangor government would stall the construction of the Langat 2 water treatment plant for as long as needed to get the state's water restructuring plan started.
George likened Khalid's stand to a Malay proverb, "Gajah sama gajah berlawan, pelanduk mati tersepit di tengah" (When elephants fight, the grass gets trampled), for consumers would be saddled with water cuts due water shortage.
For example, he said, several areas in Pandan Perdana, Pandan Indah, Taman Taynton View and Taman Bukit Segar in Cheras experienced water disruption due to depleting water at reservoirs over the past week.
According to Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas), the disruption was caused by a sharp water supply demand of late, involving more than 9,000 users.
"Before they helmed the state, they (the opposition) pledged time and again that they would be people-friendly. But since 2008, we have seen the way they work and carry out their responsibilities.
"They're are no longer sensitive; they think that since that are in power, they can do what they like, no need to listen (to the people). It was very disappointing when they said that they can wait even up to 100 years despite knowing that we will face a serious water supply shortage in 2015," he said.
He said water shortage in Selangor was not only due to normal consumer demand, but largely due to high demand from industries and new housing projects that resulted in rapid population growth.
George claimed that whenever the federal government pointed out ways to address the water woes, the state government would bring up new or unrelated issues.
He said the federal government had given the state government time and space to resolve the water issue either directly or indirectly, including providing financial and technical assistance, even to the extent that the deputy prime minister was willing to go down to the ground.
- Bernama
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