Charles Santiago appointed SPAN chairman

KUALA LUMPUR: Klang MP Charles Santiago has been appointed chairman of the National Water Services Commission (SPAN), and his main task will be to consolidate the water industries across all states.

The appointment was announced by Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar, as SPAN falls under the purview of his ministry.

According to Dr Xavier, Charles' appointment will take effect from Nov 1, 2018, until Oct 31, 2020.

"I take this opportunity to congratulate Santiago and there is a lot of work ahead for him as the chairman of SPAN, as it is an agency in charge of water administration and there's a lot of things we look forward with his appointment," he said to reporters during a press conference on Thursday (Nov 1).

At the same time, Dr Xavier said that political appointees in SPAN, appointed by the previous Barisan Nasional administration, should be brave enough to step down from their respective positions in light of the change of government.

"Because with Pakatan Harapan, we have decided to replace most political appointees done during the Barisan government," he added.

Meanwhile, Charles expressed confidence in undertaking his new role, as he has been directly involved in the debate of the Water Services Industry Act in Parliament before he was an MP in 2008.

"So, I'm familiar with the water industry and some of the players. I look forward to bring changes in the comings.

"It will be a challenging two years and water conservation will be our priority in the next two years."