Selangor political crisis will not affect water agreement - Ongkili

The Selangor leadership crisis will not adversely affect the water agreement signed between the state government and federal government.

Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said this was because the agreement made was a comprehensive one and which considered the interests of the people, state government and water supply concessionaires.

"All negotiations and discussions were conducted in an open manner and the priority of the agreement is to ensure continuous water supply in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya."

Ongkili said this in Pulau Ketam, near here, at a news conference after officiating at the project to replace the undersea water pipe to Pulau Ketam.

Also present were the ministry's secretary-general Datuk Lee Took Gee and Water Supply Department director-general Ir. Noor Azahari Zainal Abidin.

On the risk of the water agreement being cancelled, Ongkili said it was impossible to be cancelled as it was an official agreement between the Selangor government and federal government.

"Besides that, it is very difficult not to uphold the agreement as it will greatly benefit the people," he said.

The water agreement was signed by Ongkili and Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim while the tussle for the menteri besar post was going on in Pakatan Rakyat.

Meanwhile, the water pipe replacement project worth RM38 million will involve the installation of a new pipe for a distance of 5.6 kilometres, partly across the Klang Straits.

The project, expected to be completed by the year-end, is to overcome the problem of frequent water supply disruption in Pulau Ketam which has an estimated 1,200 account holders.

The problem is due to pipe bursts caused by shipping activities and work to deepen the Klang Straits carried out by the port authority.