Selangor MCA has produced a quotation and receipts from a private water-tanker operator, purportedly revealing that he had sold water to the industrial sector at prices 23 times more than what he paid the water concessionaire.

A document distributed to the media showed that the operator had bought water on March 4 from Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn. Bhd (Syabas) at RM2.07 per 1,000 litres, but sold it at RM48.48 per 1,000 litres.

Selangor MCA information bureau deputy chief Tan Bok Koon said this proves that industrial sector users in Selangor have been forced to pay unreasonable sums for water supply over the duration of rationing.

"We also wonder why the operators can't buy water directly from Syabas. Is someone doing a private deal?" he asked.

Yesterday, Tan ( left ) produced a document entitled

"Water buying procedure for factories/industry", stating that Syabas had no water tanker for supply purposes and at the same time, nine water tanker contractors were listed to serve the industrial sector.

However, Syabas chief operating officer Lee Miang Koi responded by saying that industrial operators can apply to Syabas for water and the application would be allowed if it can be accommodated and if there is water to spare.

According to the March 4 receipt obtained today, Syabas charged the contractor RM4,098 for 60 water tankers with the capacity of 33,000 litres each, which means every 1,000 litres of water was sold at RM2.07.

Another document dated April 16 is a quotation by a contractor to an industrial operator, which showed that the former offered RM1,600 for 33,000 litres, which is RM48.48 per 1000 litres of water.

The last section of the quotation even listed “stand-by and reserve water” to be sold at RM60.60 for the same capacity.

'Don't bully us'

In a statement yesterday, Syabas said it lodged a police report against MCA on the matter and challenged the Chinese-based party and anyone who claimed to have evidence of illegal water selling to lodge a complaint.

Tan chided Syabas for failing to “get things right”, saying that he should not face action as he was the one who revealed the water selling.

“Don't bully us, just because MCA is an opposition in Selangor,” he said, adding that he was collecting more evidence before lodging complaint with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Tan added that he met Syabas Klang branch manager Khairul Anuwar Ismail yesterday, and was told that the concessionaire had no control over the water price determined by contractors.

Malaysiakini is still trying to contact Khairul for clarification.

Tan also stressed that water selling should be halted during the implementation of water rationing, as households should be prioritised.

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