Selangor Umno doesn’t play dirty with water, says Noh Omar

KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor Umno chief Tan Sri Noh Omar says the party does not play dirty politics against the Opposition, such as purposely causing water supply disruptions.

He said playing the blame game would not help the Opposition-led Selangor government.

He was responding to Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali’s allegations that sabotage was behind the contamination of Sungai Semenyih, affecting the state’s water supply.

Azmin made the accusation after attending the ground-breaking ceremony for the Labohan Dagang water treatment plant near Banting.

“I want to tell him (Azmin), we don’t play dirty to win elections. We don’t want to inconvenience people to win.

“I challenge him to make a report to the police or relevant authorities. If he has proof, then why wait?” the Tanjong Karang MP told reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday.

His statement was backed up by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar who said his ministry did not find elements of sabotage over the pollution so far.

Dr Wan Junaidi said initial investigations by the Department of Environment showed that waste water released by factories at the Nilai industrial Park did not violate the Environment Quality Act 1974.

“Three locations were selected for sampling along the river to ensure the results from different parameters could be compared with the Malaysia National Water Quality Standard.

He, too, urged Azmin to lodge a police report if he suspected elements of sabotage.

Azmin, however, had a backer in Selangor exco for Tourism, Environment, Green Technology and Consumer Affairs Elizabeth Wong, who said the solvent found dumped at a site in Nilai was proof of sabotage.

“We believe pollutants were discharged intentionally with full knowledge that the drain led to the border of Selangor and the intake point of the plant.”