Johor to continue buying water from Singapore

KOTA TINGGI: Johor has to put on hold its plans to stop buying treated water from Singapore’s Public Utility Board following a delay in the completion of the Semangar Water Treatment Plant near here. 

State Works and Public Utilities Committee chairman Adam Abdul Hamid said the plant, which was scheduled to be completed this year, could only be ready at the end of next year. 

He said project hit a snag when Syarikat Air Johor Holdings, the concessionaire of water supply in the state, was unable to resolve a land acquisition matter involving several parties. 

“The acquisition of land involves Lembaga Lebuhraya Malaysia and KTM Berhad and since it is a delicate matter, it will take some time. 

“Apart from that, the company also facing an acute shortage of construction workers following the Government's move to send Indonesian labourers home recently,” he told reporters after visiting the Semangar Water Treatment Plant yesterday. 

The RM649mil project, which started in November 2000, also involves the laying of 197km-long pipes. 

Adam said that although 92% of the treatment plant had been completed, the entire project was considered “delayed” as only about 59% of the pipes had been laid. 

Despite the delay, he said Johor would still be able to reduce its dependency on Singapore’s water by more than half by the end of this year.