'Selangor govt cannot take over Syabas'

The Selangor government cannot take over Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) for it violates the conditions stipulated in the water concession agreement, said Energy, Green Technology and

Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui.

He said the water concession company was appointed to manage and administer water supply in Selangor in 2004 and the state government would liable if it were to terminate the contract.

Commenting on Selangor's demand to take over water operations from Syabas to resolve water woes in the Klang Valley, he said the state government should instead hold talks with Syabas for the acquisition could only materialise if Syabas agrees to it.

"Let me tell Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim that the federal government had never stopped the state from taking over the company because we do not have any equity in the company except for a golden share for the purpose of monitoring," he told reporters after delivering his new year message to the ministry's employees here today.

Abdul Khalid yesterday asserted that Syabas' failure to fulfil its responsibilities under the concession agreement with the state in providing services to consumers has made it imperative for the state to step in.

The menteri besar said this in the wake of water crisis in 90 areas in the Gombak and Ampang allegedly due to the Wangsa Maju water pump house operating at excess capacity, affecting nearly 500,000 users.

Urging the state government to stop blaming Syabas for the water crisis, Chin said, "This is not a takeover issue, instead all quarters, namely the state government, Syabas and the federal government should sit down and find a solution to ensure that this problem does not recur for water is the basic need

of the people.

"The federal government is ever willing to help in any way it can and plan future water needs," he said.

Meanwhile, National Water Services Commission (SPAN) chief executive officer Datuk Teo Yen Hua gave an assurance that the water woes would be resolved by Monday.

He said SPAN supported Syabas's decision to install a bypass pipe to enable water to be supplied via gravity feed from the Dusun Kubong pond to the new AU3 suction pond and the old AU3 suction pond.

"The installation of the bypass pipe started on Tuesday night and is expected to be completed within five days. When completed, water will be pumped to both suction ponds without going through the Wangsa Maju pump house," he added.