Selangor water MOU irrevocable if there is leadership change - Ongkili

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the restructuring of the water industry in Selangor, which was signed by the Selangor government and federal government last month, is irrevocable even if there is a leadership change in the state, said Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili.

He said there was a clause to this effect in the MOU.

"But what I feel is more important in the MOU is the spirit and intention. We expect nobody to dispute it because it is something for the good," he said on Wednesday.

Under the MoU signed on February 26, the Selangor government will issue the development order for the construction of the Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant and Distribution System (LRAL2) within 30 days of the signing.

On Tuesday, Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is speculated will take over as Menteri Besar of Selangor if he wins the Kajang by-election on March 23, had asked Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim to defer signing any contract on the matter until the Pakatan Rakyat and state leaderships were updated on the details of the MOU.

Khalid, also agreed that the MOU was irrevocable because agreements made by states or countries must be honoured.

"If we go back on our promises, we have to be ashamed of ourselves. If agreements are not honoured, Selangor's rating will drop because we did not respect agreements," he said.