Thursday 28 Mar 2024
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SHAH ALAM: Putrajaya and the Selangor government yesterday held talks to review terms of the water restructuring agreement, said Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali.

He said a preliminary discussion was held between Selangor state secretary Datuk Mohammed Khusrin Munawi and Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry secretary-general Datuk Loo Took Gee.

“Today’s (yesterday) meeting was not between the minister and menteri besar, just between top officials. The state was represented by Khusrin and I was told the ministry was represented by its secretary-general.

“It is to my understanding that the meeting this morning (yesterday) was a good start. It will be followed by a meeting with the minister.

“I hope we will be able to finalise principles under the deal as soon as possible,” he told the media after launching the state-level celebration of World Water Day at Plaza Alam Sentral yesterday.

When asked about the land issue that caused Selangor to cancel the memorandum of agreement signed last year, Azmin said the matter did not arise because Putrajaya agreed to review terms of the original deal.

“If they are returning to the original deal, the issue would not arise,” he said.

On March 9, the Selangor government revoked the agreement with Putrajaya inked by Azmin’s predecessor Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim in September last year.

Azmin accused the federal government of failing to comply with conditions set by the Selangor government, and said Putrajaya’s request for land — where the water pipes would be laid — would cause the state to lose its sovereignty, a claim which the ministry has denied.

Azmin also promised consumers in Selangor and the Klang Valley that water tariffs will be kept reasonable after the deal is finalised and put into effect.

“I give my assurance; it is the responsibility of the state government to provide efficient water services to the people at a rate that is reasonable,” he said in his speech when launching yesterday’s event.

He also asked the public to cooperate by using water conservatively in view of an expected drought season from April to September.

Selangor has the highest daily usage of water at 235 litres per person.

“This high usage must be curbed and reduced as it can lead to wastage,” he said. — The Malaysian Insider

 

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on March 24, 2015.

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