Syabas urged to solve water issue immediately

Deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Ahmad Maslan hoped the crisis could be settled before the Chinese New Year celebration since he had promised the people of Sri Melaka Flats in Cheras and areas in the klang valley that the government would ensure the problem would not be solved quickly.

"I will contact Syabas today and tell them the distribution of water using tankers to the affected residents, since the water crisis took place at the end of December, is inadequate," he said.

He said this during a media conference after meeting residents of Sri Melaka Flats, Cheras during a Barisan Nasional (BN) programme in Cheras, here, today.

Syabas executive chairman Tan Sri Rozali Ismail had recently said the crisis, especially in Ampang and Cheras, was expected to continue until the Chinese New Year celebration.

Rozali said the water crisis would be lengthy as there was a shortfall of treated water, rise in demand from time to time and the postponement of the CAPEX programme encompassing repair works, upgrading or change of assets and current distribution system by the state government.

CAPEX was the freeze of Capital Spending against Syabas by the Selangor State government.

In this regard, Ahmad Maslan urged all parties to cooperate when facing the crisis, to refrain against politicising it and to encourage the public to become volunteers to help affected residents.