SHAH ALAM: Selangor’s restructuring of its water industry has to be settled immediately, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah said yesterday, adding that the state government and Putrajaya should stick to the original deal and not play politics with it.

The Selangor ruler said he hopes the spirit and terms of the water deal — signed on Sept 12 last year — would be realised without further delay.

The monarch also told Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali to be firm in defending the sovereignty of the state.

“Water is a crucial necessity for the people. I urge that this matter not be politicised by any party, so that the restructuring deal can be carried out in the interest of the people and the development of the state,” he said in his royal address at the opening of the Selangor legislative assembly sitting in Shah Alam yesterday.

Sultan Sharafuddin said he believes a face-to-face discussion is the only way to resolve the stalemate fairly. He said he views the latest development as positive and is confident that discussions between the two sides would place the people’s interest first.

Sultan Sharafuddin reminded the assemblymen to focus on development issues and the future of the state.

Mohamed Azmin later said the Selangor government will arrange a meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to discuss the state’s water restructuring issue.

“It is understood that he (Najib) will be in Sabah in the next few days. We will set the date as soon as he comes back,” said Mohamed Azmin.

It was reported that Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili will soon meet with Mohamed Azmin to discuss and resolve issues pertaining to the Selangor water restructuring deal. — The Malaysian Insider

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on March 31, 2015.