Pua to Khalid: Stop blaming Syabas, DAP MP calls for 'Plan B'

PETALING JAYA: A responsible and caring Pakatan Rakyat government should do much more than just “blame Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas)” for the water crisis, according to DAP MP Tony Pua.

Instead of arranging a lesson for him on “what the state has done” and “why Syabas is to blame”, he said it might be more important for Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and state officials to pay a visit to the families queuing up with pails to draw water from the supply tanks. 

“I am certain these residents will be extremely keen to hear about it,” he said in a statement on Sunday, hitting out at the Mentri Besar for the second time this week.

Pua said that the MB may be right in pointing fingers at the state water concessionaire for the water issues, but no explanation was given as to why the state government was so quick to "guarantee" that there would not be any major water disruption.

“Some residents might wonder as to why the state government was so quick to offer 'guarantees' when the state is fully aware that Syabas has refused to cooperate or even attend state organised meetings,” he said.

He added that even if the state government was unable to fulfil its promises, it should come up with ways to provide immediate assistance to those affected by the water issue.

“Should we not have some empathy and put in place a ‘Plan B’ for these long suffering water disruption victims?

“Surely, a responsible and caring Pakatan Rakyat state government should do much more than just blame Syabas - even if they are indeed the rightful party to be blamed,” he said.

Pua also said that he fully supported Serdang MP Ong Kian Ming’s suggestion for a water task force comprising the Mentri Besar, key elected representatives and state officials to find and review solutions for the water woes.

“This committee will not only give the state authorities the opportunity to teach us ignorant elected representatives of the issue, but also allow the local assemblymen to share with the top state leaders the problems and pains felt on the ground so that a solution, particularly in the short-term, can be found,” Pua said, taking a jibe at Khalid who had earlier said that the DAP MP should learn more about the water issue before doling out criticism. 

“While waiting for the state to finally take over control of Syabas, we cannot just sit back and allow Syabas to make a mockery of the Pakatan Rakyat government,” Pua said.