It has been raining cats and dogs in the last few days, particularly overnight from Jan 2 - 3. Despite the torrential downpour leading to massive floods, areas in Selangor reportedly faced unscheduled dry taps due to ... ironically... floods!
On Jan 3, Air Selangor reported that eight areas had been affected following the shutdown of the Sungai Selisek water treatment plant. This forcible shutdown was executed reportedly due to Sungai Selisek waters rising to a critical level at its intakes due to continuous rain.
It was bad enough that unscheduled water interruptions became a monthly occurrence just three months ago, but now it has become a weekly affair, much to the ire and expense of affected residents and the private sector.
The Selangor Pakatan state government must be taken to task.
When there was a prolonged dry hot spell resulting in depleting water reserves in reservoirs, the Pakatan Selangor state government enforced water rationing in the past. Now with the monsoon season, water supply has also been disconnected without prior notification.
Then, let us not forget when water sources in Rawang were polluted by illegal factories in September, October and November 2020 or regular burst pipes causing water interruptions.
All these incidents highlight that the water authority in the state, ie Air Selangor and the Pakatan Selangor state government, do not have any mechanism to avert, much less, handle a water crisis.
But who are the ultimate victims? Klang Valley residents and the commercial sector, in particular, small businesses like kopitiams, hair salons, wellness centres, launderettes and others, whereby the livelihoods of its operators are diminished.
The Pakatan Selangor state government must clarify where have all and how were the funds used when RM2mil was spent to purchase four drones, or other Selangor Budget allocations intended to address water woes, repair or upgrade old pipes and other water issues as indicated above.
All measures having failed, it is time to remove the incumbent Selangor Pakatan state government which has failed to counter the perennial water woe, despite millions of ringgit soaked up.
Datuk Ng Chok Sin
MCA Selangor State Liaison Committee Chairman
