Having the current Selangor state administration finalising its RM9.65 billion water deal with the federal government this week could lead to  questions of its legitimacy , a DAP MP warned today.

Klang MP Charles Santiago said that Abdul Khalid Ibrahim is effectively a "caretaker" MB as he had already handed in his resignation but is remaining in the post until the Selangor sultan appoints a replacement.

"Therefore, my question is whether a caretaker MB, working with a skeletal cabinet, can sign a deal worth RM9.65 billion especially given the huge financial and other implications in the state?" Charles asked in a statement today.

He said that signing the deal in the midst of a change in administration could lead to legitimacy and moral questions, especially as there had not been transparency and openness in the negotiations thus far.

The water deal, one of the main issues that Khalid's former party PKR was unhappy about in his administration, was widely reported to be signed by the end of this week, before the outgoing MB officially steps down.

"(The federal government) should wait for the new Selangor leadership to be sworn in (before signing the agreement), in the interest of good governance and accountability," he said.

He said that the new state leadership should be allowed to "take ownership" of the water deal because it will be made responsible in implementing all the undertakings and financial commitments in the agreement.

"Why rush to conclude an incomplete agreement?" he asked, referring to the fact that the state government has yet to agree a compensation amount for the takeover of the state water treatment operator, Splash.

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