Published: Monday January 14, 2013 MYT 3:04:00 PM
Updated: Monday January 14, 2013 MYT 3:09:41 PM

S'gor urged to replace aged water assets

By TEH ENG HOCK

SHAH ALAM: The state government has been urged to not politicise water issues but instead work on replacing aged water assets used by water concessionaire Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas).

Malay Economic Consultative Council (Mapem) honorary secretary Halim Mohamad said water supply disruptions were affecting businesses, and called for immediate action to be taken to rectify the situation before it became worse.

Speaking to reporters here Monday after being briefed by Syabas, Halim said the state government should replace aged water assets and build more infrastructure such as pumphouses.

"It should retract its action of freezing capital expenditure as the move is the root cause to the chain of problems related to water distribution efficiency," he said.

Halim said Mapem understood that the current water crisis faced by residents in Cheras and Ampang was due to technicalities.

"We accept Syabas' explanation that the water crisis is due the failure of the Wangsa Maju and Pudu Ulu pumphouses. Technically, we accept that the pump failures are due to age factors and over-usage," he said.

He added that the state executive councillors should reduce politicking and instead prioritise the people's needs.

To a question, Halim said the water services industry restructuring exercise, where the state government had proposed to take over Syabas, should be handled separately from water distribution operations.

"We should keep discussions on the concession agreement separate from water supply because we are facing water shortages now and cannot wait as the situation will get more critical," he said.

News

Published: Monday January 14, 2013 MYT 3:04:00 PMUpdated: Monday January 14, 2013 MYT 3:09:41 PM

S'gor urged to replace aged water assets

By TEH ENG HOCK

Published: Monday January 14, 2013 MYT 3:04:00 PM
Updated: Monday January 14, 2013 MYT 3:09:41 PM