KUALA LUMPUR (March 21): The Selangor state government called upon all parties to use the latest 2018 figures on the state's water reserves, noting its reserve margin now stands at 5.4%. 

This is in response to the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology & Water (KeTTHA) Secretary-General Dr Zaini Ujang who said the water reserve margin in Selangor in 2017 was at 0% and the subsequent clarification from the Malaysian Water Association (MWA) who noted Zaini was using outdated data in his statements. 

“MWA confirmed that Dr Zaini had omitted the actual situation of Selangor’s water reserve margin in 2015 and 2016, which were at 2.2% and 4.4% respectively,” the Selangor Menteri Besar office said in a statement today. 

“However, both the MWA and Dr Zaini have failed to recognise that Selangor has supplied them and the public with the latest 2018 figures on Selangor’s water reserves, which are well above the zero level falsely claimed by Zaini,” the statement added.

Since the Semenyih 2 Water Treatment Plant (WTP) went fully operational last month, Selangor’s water reserve margin now stands at 5.4%, the Selangor government said.

It further noted it has spent RM177.5 million on Semenyih 2, in order to ensure the public enjoys better access to clean and healthy water.

“With phase one of the Langat 2 WTP and the Labohan Dagang WTP coming online later this year, we expect our water reserve margin to rise to a solid 11% by 2019,” the statement said. 

It added that the KeTTHA Secretary-General should stick to his professional concerns and refrain from supporting UMNO/Barisan Nasional attacks on Selangor’s water, as Malaysia's 14th General Election draws ever closer.

However, in a report by Bernama yesterday, Zaini reiterated that no political party instructed him to “attack” the Selangor government over the issue of water reserve margin in the state. 

“I am not a politician and I was not instructed by anyone to make a statement on the water issue. I am also not contesting in the general election,” Zaini added.