SHAH ALAM, Mar 11 – The Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) and Coalition Against Water Privatisation (CAWP) today gave memorandums to Dato’ Menteri Besar Selangor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim as a sign of their full support towards the state government’s efforts to take over Selangor’s water management.

MTUC President, Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud who represented the non-governmental organisation has denounced the Federal government’s sabotaging of the state government’s efforts without any terms and conditions for taking over the concession.

“This memorandum is our way of showing the discontent felt by the ordinary man, our members who feel that the federal government is not on the people’s side and in fact is giving priority to the concession holders,” he said to the media after delivering the memorandum to Abdul Khalid at the Dataran Dewan Undangan Negeri Selangor here today.

Also present were Klang Member of Parliament, Charles Santiago and President of the Selangor Jamaah Islah Malaysia, Mazmi Kamal.

“We believe that water is a basic human right and it is the responsibility of the government to understand, protect and promote this right,” he said, calling upon the Selangor state government to remain firm and stand their ground, besides keeping their promise to the people of this state.

He added, the state government’s plans could reduce the burden of the people as well as help to stimulate Selangor’s economy.

Therefore, he said, they hoped the Federal government would review its stand and support the Selangor state government.

In a related development, Abdul Khalid who received the memorandum this morning said the Selangor state government was unswerving in its decision to take over the concession.

He said, if the state government managed to take over Selangor’s water management, the water tariff would not be increased and would continue to give free waters at 20 cubic metres to the people.

“This is not politics, this involves the people and in giving out free water it doesn’t matter if they are from UMNO, MCA, MIC or Keadilan we (still) give them water.

“Therefore there is no question of dispute among us, as the question is whether we have the strength to fight this and we must continue to do so,” he said.  – MURIZA ABDUL HAMID