'Good luck' says Peter Chin to Khalid

"Go ahead, I wish you good luck."

That is the response given by Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Kah Fui to Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim's announcement that the state government will take over four water concession companies in the state within 14 days.

Chin said he wondered why Khalid had to give the 14-day period, make the announcement and give the ultimatum when there was no objection on the government's side for the take-over to be done through negotiations and through willing buyer-willing seller concept.

After all, he said the government had no power to force the companies to sell off their equities to the state government.

"What we have is the way to restructure the water supply industry, which has been proven effective in six states so far, including Penang. I don't see why the same restructuring process cannot be implemented in Selangor," he told a press conference here today.

Media reports today quoted Khalid as saying that Selangor government had sent a letter to Peter Chin, announcing that the state would take over the water services from Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas), Syarikat Pengeluar Air Bhd (Splash), Konsortium Abbas and Puncak Niaga Bhd should there be no response from the ministry within 14 days.

Chin said there was no use for him to response to the announcement as the state government owned 90 per cent of equity in Abbas, as well as 30 percent equity in Splash and Syabas respectively.

"If the state government is the shareholder of the companies, it can take over the companies by calling for a board meeting and settle it domestically.

What's the point of giving me the 14-period to respond?" he chided. Furthermore, Chin said he had yet to receive any letter from the state government pertaining to the announcement made by Khalid.