Selangor Mentri Besar beats PKR adviser to water deal

PETALING JAYA: Kajang by-election contestant Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said that PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim got “checkmated” by Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim on the water deal.

Zaid said it was too late for Anwar – who is apparently setting his sights on the office of mentri besar – to influence the deal that has just been struck between the Federal and state governments.

“It is too late. It is a checkmate for Anwar,” he told a packed press conference at his residence here yesterday.

On Wednesday, the Federal and Selangor governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will facilitate the implementation of the Langat 2 water treatment plant project and the takeover of water assets in the state.

The MoU breaks a five-year impasse that has stalled the implementation of water projects in the country’s most industrialised state.

However, PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli had claimed the party was in the dark about the MoU, and said the state executive councillors would be asked to explain.

But Zaid believed Anwar knew the MoU would be signed.

“I am sure Anwar knew about the deal ...in the event a new mentri besar takes over from Khalid, he cannot do anything to ruin the deal.

“I think what Khalid did was right and I agree with him.

“At least the future of the Selangor people would be more secure with the end of the privatisation of water supplies,” he said.

Zaid vehemently denied allegations that he had lobbied for state projects while he was in PKR.

“I never made any requests (for projects) on behalf of myself or my family or my friends. You can ask the (state) excos, the land office or the Mentri Besar’s office,” he said.

On Wednesday, Rafizi, who is Pandan MP, claimed that Zaid during his time in the party “shamelessly used his position” to influence the state government on a number of projects.

In a copy of e-mail exchanges distributed to the press, Rafizi said that Zaid had asked him, when he was then the Selangor Economic Adviser’s chief executive officer, to interfere in land projects of two companies.

Zaid, who joined PKR in 2009 and left the year after, said it was a common practice for businesses to seek help from politicians.

“I just thought the projects would be suitable and beneficial for the state’s development,” he said.

Zaid stressed that the two companies wanted the state’s assistance in developing the land, not in acquiring it as stated by Rafizi.

He said he had no interest in the companies.

Zaid, who had announced that he would contest the Kajang seat as an Independent, said:

“This kid (Rafizi) is playing dirty politics (to tarnish my image). He is merely Anwar’s political graduate.”

Related stories:
Some PKR top brass wanted to set price of water assets, says Khalid
Selangor Mentri Besar beats PKR adviser to water deal
Government confident of takeover deal