Zaid: Anwar checkmated over water deal

Former PKR leader says the water management MoU between the federal and Selangor governments yesterday has placed Anwar Ibrahim in a checkmate position.

KUALA LUMPUR - Former minister and PKR supreme council member Zaid Ibrahim today said opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is facing a “dead end” following the signing of the water concession memorandum of understanding between the federal and Selangor governments yesterday.

Zaid, who is contesting in the upcoming Kajang state seat by-election, said it showed Khalid’s resolve to end the water impasse between the state and the federal governments.

“It will be too late for him (to do anything on the issue)…checkmate.  The water deal shows that Khalid is trying to end the mess in Selangor and once it is done nobody can change it.

“Even if Anwar becomes the MB, he can’t overwrite the deal,” Zaid told a press conference at his residence here today.

Zaid claimed Anwar would have acted differently and might even have tried to privatise water supply in Selangor, if the MoU was not signed yesterday and he became the state’s next Menteri Besar.

“Anwar’s real reason (to contest the by-election) is to become the MB so he could privatise water supply. Now the water is under the command of Selangor state government and no one can change anything,” he added.

Yesterday, Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim signed an MOU with Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Maximus Ongkili to resolve a spat involving Langat 2 project and the acquisition of state water assets in Selangor.

Under the MoU, the state government will issue a development order for the construction of the Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant (Langat 2) and its distribution system (LRAL2) (Package 2A), and ensure that all approvals and authorisation related to the project are approved within 30 days.

In return, the Selangor state government would be allowed to acquire water assets from concessionaires Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd (PNSB), Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas), Syarikat Pengeluar Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Splash), and Konsortium ABASS Sdn Bhd (ABBAS).

In addition, the federal government would also inject funds worth RM 2 billion to Selangor to facilitate the acquisition.

By Alfian ZM Tahir