Azmin: Water deal stays

SHAH ALAM: Selangor Mentri Besar Azmin Ali wants to see an efficient and quality water supply in the state and has no intention of revoking the agreement between the federal and state governments.

“I am not going to revoke it. I want the exercise to be completed as soon as possible so the people can have enough water in the future,” he said.

However, Azmin said he would continue to press Putrajaya for full disclosure of the water deal.

 

“How do you expect me and the new administration to defend the decisions taken on the project if we cannot explain to the rakyat the terms and conditions, the tariff rates that will be applied and how it will affect them as consumers?” he said.

He was giving an exclusive interview to The Star yesterday in conjunction with his first month in office.

His stand may come as a surprise to detractors who perceived the deal as a clandestine backdoor agreement between the former mentri besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and Umno.

Many, including his Pakatan Rakyat colleagues, had expected Azmin to annul the agreement.

Azmin said the state government wanted to end speculation about the water deal and the only way was to open it up to the people. 

Azmin, who received original ­copies of the memorandum of understanding, heads of agreement and the master agreement earlier this month, said the documents were subjected to the Official Secrets Act.

“Because of this, I cannot reveal details of the agreement. This is only a normal agreement, a business transaction between the state and Federal bodies. This is not about national security,’’ he said.

He has also written to Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili requesting that the Federal Government reveal the details of the deal to the public but has not received any official reply.

However, Dr Ongkili has told the media that the Attorney-General does not allow it and that the concessionaire companies are also against it.

“Are they protecting the companies or the rakyat? The rakyat needs to know the terms and conditions because the tariffs that will be applied affect them,” Azmin said.

On his maiden state budget next month, he said it would focus on development and the people.

Unlike the federal budget, where only about 18% of the RM273bil allocation is for development and the rest for operational expenditure, the Selangor budget would see a 60:40 ratio in that respect.

He said the development spending was to generate economic activities and more income all round.

“Selangor contributes about 25% towards the national GDP (gross domestic product). It is the key to national growth and prosperity.

“We will not neglect our social responsibility to the people but we also need to engage with the business community,” he said.

Related story:

I won’t be a stingy MB, says Azmin