SHAH ALAM, February 18 – The management of the water service industry in Selangor managed by several concession companies will be restructured by the state government.

Kuala Selangor Member of Parliament, Dr Dzulkifli Ahmad said the water restructuring was done to protect the rights and interests of the people as consumers.

“After attempts for privatisation failed, we as a Pakatan Rakyat state government feel that the people in this state should be given the right to manage the administration of all water affairs in Selangor,” he said when met at the Public Briefing – Restructuring Selangor Water Industry Services at the Auditorium Dewan Jubli, SSAAS Building here, this morning.

He said, based on previous experience, privatisation policies had caused the people to become victims while the state government suffered losses.

Dr Dzulkifli who is a member of the Selangor Water Review Panel Committee said the committee had assessed all water concession owners in this state and found that the price they offered was reasonable.

“If they said their future income will be affected… we took that into consideration and gave a reasonable and fair rate,” he said.

Today’s briefing was chaired by Selangor Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Information Chief, Datin Paduka Tan Kee Yew with a six-member water evaluation panel for the state of Selangor, Dr Dzulkifli, Klang Member of Parliament Charles Santiago, Selayang Member of Parliament, William Leong, Petaling Jaya Utara Member of Parliament Tony Pua, lawyer, Fahda Nur Ahmad Kamar and Nottingham University Malaysia lecturer, Dr Subramaniam Pillay.

The Water Review Panel Committee, which is participated by Selangor Members of Parliament also urged the Federal Government and Minister empowered under the Water Industry Service Act (Wisa)  to support the state government’s offer to water management concession rights in Selangor.

“We have asked the Minister of Energy, Water and Communications, Dato’ Shaziman Abu Mansor to support the government’s offer for concession rights and water management assets in Selangor,” said Dr Dzulkifli adding that concession offers were made on February 13th.
 
The briefing sponsored by the Selangor state government aimed at explaining to the general public about restructuring attempts in Selangor’s water service industry.– MURIZA ABDUL HAMID