The federal government, through the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water, has never stopped the Selangor state government from taking over not only Syabas but all the water concession companies in the state.

This was the stand as long as the takeover was based on a "willing buyer, willing seller" basis and with respect to the existing, legal concession agreements and the understanding that the state government fully finances the takeover, the ministry said in a statement today.

This agreement has been there since early 2008 when the suggestion to restructure Selangor's water supply industry was presented to the government, it said.

The matter was explained by its minister Peter Chin Fah Kui through letters to Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, as well as in press statements and in Parliament, the ministry said.

The last last time this explanation was given to Abdul Khalid was through a letter dated November 24, it said.

selangor protest against syabas 20101205 young supporters With this explanation, there was no need for the Selangor government to hand over a memorandum or call on its supporters to demonstrate.

What needs to be done as fast as possible is for the state government to make the takeover offer to the four water concession companies as expressed by Abdul Khalid, the ministry said.

The ministry issued the statement in reaction to an announcement from Abdul Khalid that the state government had received from the ministry a written approval on December 3 to purchase the four water concession companies in Selangor.

In his announcement, Abdul Khalid said the state government would conduct an open tender to buy the four companies to carry out its restructuring plan for Selangor's water industry.

The four companies are Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas), Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd (PNSB), Syarikat Pengeluaran Air Sungai Selangor Sdn Bhd (Splash) and Konsortium ABASS.

- Bernama