Jamal's towel-clad water protest


Dressing down: Jamal protesting outside the Selangor state secretariat building.

SHAH ALAM: While most Klang Valley residents stored water in containers to face the scheduled water disruption, Red Shirts leader Datuk Seri Jamal Yunos decided to pull off a stunt, marching up to the state secretariat building in Shah Alam, wearing just towels and demanding that he be allowed to shower within the building.

He didn’t get his way – the guards closed the gates.

Jamal had appeared at Shah Alam wearing a towel around his waist and another on his shoulder, demanding to shower at the mentri besar’s office.

He claimed his house in Ampang had been without water for two days.

Jamal came prepared with toiletries and the dipper, with a toothbrush tucked behind his right ear.

He walked towards the main gate at about 9.40am but security guards shut the gates to prevent him from entering moments before he made it to the gate.

He was not allowed in after he told the guards that he only wanted to go in to shower at the mentri besar’s office.

After waiting for about 20 minutes, he turned around and spoke to a group of journalists.

“Water supply at my house in Ampang stopped four days ago and water in the storage tank only lasted two days,” he claimed.

“My house has run out of water, and even the nearby surau I went to this morning had no water.

“I only want to take a shower here. Why are you not allowing me in?” he shouted at the guards.

He lambasted the Selangor government for allegedly failing to address the water issue, claiming there have been too many water disruptions in the Klang Valley this year.

“And yet what is happening now? They kept blaming Barisan Nasional and now they are blaming Tenaga Nasional Berhad for the disruption,” he said. “They never admit their own mistakes and this is utter hypocrisy.”

Jamal said he empathised with the Chinese community who had to celebrate the Winter Solstice Day or dong zhi without water yesterday.

“I am truly disappointed. It is a big day for the Chinese community and they had to endure water supply disruptions.

Asked where he would go for a shower after that, Jamal said he was thinking of going to KLCC while still clad in his towel.

Another famous figure also got into the act, with Abdul Rani Kulup posting a video on Facebook telling people not to waste water after supply was restored to his house. He was clad in a sarong.

In the post, he said the lack of water was a test from God and people had to be patient and wait for supply to return.

“Don’t be angry, bro. Don’t lose it if there is no water. We just have to pray,” he said.

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