SELAYANG, Mar 1 – Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said his wish to take over the water service industry in Selangor was purely in the interest of the people.

He said the people should receive some benefit from previous privatisation but instead the opposite had happened.

“I’m afraid that these people from the private sector would only think of profit, exorbitant profit, you do not know that according to their calculations, in the next six years water tariffs will go up again… and then one litre of water (would cost) more than RM3 meaning that it would be better to buy oil… it’s because of that I said this is not acceptable,” said the Dato’ Menteri Besar at the Current Affairs Talk by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) at the Majlis Perbandaran Selayang (MPS) Stadium,  near here last night.

Also present were Bukit Antarabangsa State Assemblyman (Adun), Azmin Ali who is also PKR Vice President, Batu Caves Adun, Amirudin Shari and Selayang Member of Parliament, William Leong.

He said the cost was extremely high and they should not be allowed to profit in a way that would cause the people hardship.

Abdul Khalid said because of that the state government had made offers amounting to RM5.5 billion to take over the four water concession companies to ensure the water industry could be restructured.

He said the state government stood by its offer even though other parties had offered a higher price.

“I have already said no… that’s being greedy, you’ve already profited but want to make even more profit,” he said.

Meanwhile, Abdul Khalid said the state government would implement residence programmes for everyone this year.

He said, at the moment there were about 10,000 unoccupied low-cost houses.

“We will find a way for these 10,000 units could be given back to the people through several programmes,” he said.

Abdul Khalid said the state government would continue to ensure the people gained from programmes which it carried out, particularly through the “Merakyatkan Ekonomi Selangor” (MES) agenda. – NOOR ALLIA KASSIM