Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) today refuted a report in a newspaper which stated that the company had sent a proposal on a dam construction in Ampang, Selangor, to the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry.

Its executive chairman, Rozali Ismail, said what was actually told to the media was on the proposed construction of a dam and treatment plant in Salak Tinggi by the ministry.

"Since the proposed dam and treatment plant are already in the ministry's plan, Syabas has proposed that a one-flow pipe be built so that water from the dam can flow directly to the Salak Tinggi treatment plant to avoid extracting contaminated raw water from Sungai Labu, Negeri Sembilan.

"Therefore, the report on Syabas or Puncak Niaga (PNSB) building a dam in Ampang is not true," he said in a statement here today.

He said the proposed building of the dam and treatment plant was among the several alternatives to overcome extraction of contaminated water, a problem which caused the plant in Salak Tinggi to be closed often.

Water disruptions

He said that this year alone, the plant in Salak Tinggi was closed three times, including for 47 days last July.

The closure of the plant caused disruption in water supply to areas in Salak Tinggi and Sepang, involving 10,000 consumers, he added.

Last Wednesday, The Star newspaper published a report which stated that Syabas submitted a proposal to the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry for a dam to be built in Ampang to provide an alternative source of water supply for the plant in Salak Tinggi, as well as other areas.

In a related development, Rozali welcomed a proposal by Tourism, Consumer Affairs and Environment Permanent Committee Chairman Elizabeth Wong for Syabas to upgrade its treatment plants to avoid further breakdown at the plants.

- Bernama