Klang MP, C. Santiago should keep silent over water deal

Klang MP ‘shooting his mouth’ over water deal, says MB Khalid

BY ANISAH SHUKRY

Published: 10 September 2014

Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim (centre) says Klang MP Charles Santiago doesn't know anything about the Selangor's water deal with Putrajaya. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Afif Abd Halim, September, 10, 2014.Klang MP Charles Santiago knows nothing, and should check his facts before making statements on the water restructuring agreement, said embattled Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim today.

He dismissed the DAP lawmaker’s claim that the final agreement to restructure treated water services in Selangor, to be signed this Friday, would be questionable due to his status as a “caretaker” MB.

“He doesn’t know, just like he doesn’t know about the poisoned water in the mining pond,” Khalid told reporters after attending a state executive council meeting at the Selangor secretariat building today.

“My understanding is that professionals check their facts first before making statements. If not, then we are not regarded as helping the community and the nation.

“(He is) just shooting his mouth here and there, not adding any value. Even though he appears busy, he is not giving any benefit to the rakyat.”

Santiago yesterday questioned whether the final agreement should be inked at all, and claimed that Khalid was a caretaker MB after his resignation was deferred pending the Selangor Sultan’s decision on a new MB.

“Signing the agreement in the midst of a change in administration could lead to questions of moral and legal legitimacy, especially since there has hardly been any openness and transparency in the negotiations so far,” said Santiago yesterday.

“It should, instead, wait for the new Selangor leadership to be sworn in, in the interest of good governance and accountability.”

But Khalid said today the deal would not be signed any later than Tuesday next week, as they were still finalising it.

“Our target is this week or not later than Monday or Tuesday next week. But I think we are targeting our arrangement to be within this week, because we are now at the final stage of the draft of all agreements.”

Besides the federal and state government, he said there were many agencies that were a part of the deal, such as Pengurusan Aset Air Berhad, the National Water Services Commission (SPAN), and the Selangor Water Management Board.

“I think it is putting everything in line so that once we sign the master agreement, everything is in implementation mode rather than discussing more,” said Khalid.

Earlier today, Energy, Green Technology and Water Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the deal would be signed on Friday, despite an impending change in the Selangor MB post.

When asked if the ministry had prepared a "Plan B" should the dealings be delayed by the appointment of a new MB, Mahdzir said no alternative had been planned for now.

Khalid was expelled from his party PKR last month after he refused to heed his party's directive to vacate the MB seat for Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

On August 1, Selangor and Putrajaya signed the heads of government agreement that sealed the exercise.

Under the deal, Putrajaya will assist Selangor in de-privatising the industry and returning it to state control, while Selangor is to approve Putrajaya's RM3.6 billion Langat 2 water treatment plant project.

But PKR and DAP were unhappy with the wording of the agreements signed by Khalid. They said the agreements extracted too many binding commitments from Selangor towards Putrajaya and lacked guarantees that the operations of the industry would return permanently to public hands.

The master agreement to be signed this Friday details all steps taken by Putrajaya and Selangor to de-privatise the industry.

Selangor is also expected to sign agreements to buy over control in three of the four companies that currently treat and distribute a significant amount of the 3.9 billion litres a day that is used by about 7 million people.

The three are Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd (PNSB), Syabas and Abass, which will be taken over by state-owned Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Berhad. – September 10, 2014.h

C. Santiago should keep silent and let this water deal be signed as Anwar was going to add RM2 billion more perhaps to feed his cronies.
It really doesn't matter who seals the deal as both PKR and Federal govt are going to let their cronies in on the deal.