S’gor to take over water services via Act
By Farah Adilla, FMT
SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government will take over the state’s water industry through the Water Services Industry Act 2006 (WSIA 2006) after it failed in talks with concession holder Puncak Niaga Holdings Bhd and Kumpulan Peransang Selangor Bhd (KPSB) to
meet the deadline on Dec 31, 2013.
Mentri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said the state government has discussed with the Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Dr Maximus Ongkili on Tuesday and agreed to fully cooperate with the federal government to adopt Section 114 of the WSIA 2006 subject to certain conditions.
The conditions are for National Water Services Commission to appoint two administrators for the water concessionaires which are responsible for the state’s water management.
“This is necessary because the state owns most of Selangor’s water assets in the state and Kuala Lumpur.
“The two administrators to be appointed are Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd president Suhaimi Kamaralzaman, who is an accountant and have a broad expertise in the management of Malaysian water industry, and Mentri Besar Inc CEO Faekah Husin,” Abdul Khalid told a media briefing in Shah Alam on Tuesday.
Abdul Khalid said the state government is committed to restructuring the water industry as espoused by the WSIA 2006 among others to cancel the privatisation of the water industry so that people get better service with reasonable rates.
However, Abdul Khalid did not disclose any timeline for the completion of the restructuring and takeover.
