The people of Selangor have a legal standing to take the state government to court if they did not receive the water subsidy as promised, said Selangor Umno deputy liaison chief Noh Omar.

He said, there were legal grounds to challenge the state government for giving false hope to the people.

"It is a manifesto or promise made by Pakatan Rakyat, which is legally and morally binding," he told reporters after opening the second Agriculture Convocation today.

A total of 840 graduates from the National Agriculture Training Council, Peninsular Malaysia Agriculture Institute and the Veterinary Training Institute received their diplomas and certificates at the function.

Noh, who is also Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister, was commenting on a report that 683 consumers contemplated legal action against the Selangor government to claim arrears in subsidy under the free water supply scheme promised by the opposition pact in the last general election.

He said the state government had a responsibility to fulfil promises made to the people, adding it did not keep its promise to provide free water to the people.

"Only households with individual water meters enjoyed the benefit but not those using common meters, like in low-cost flats and apartments," he noted.

- Bernama