The energy, green technology and water ministry will propose the setting up of a laboratory to settle the water issue in Selangor during the Cabinet meeting on Friday.

Its minister, Peter Chin Fah Kui, said the participation of representatives of the Selangor Government would be sought in the laboratory, to be handled by the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu).

Third parties such as non-governmental organisations and experts in the related fields would also be invited to take part in discussions in the laboratory, he said.

"I will ask the Selangor Government to attend, together with interested parties, to discuss whether Selangor has enough raw water or not.

"If not, we can discuss how we can increase the source of raw water," he said when winding up the Supply Bill 2013 at the Dewan Rakyat in Kuala Lumpur today.

Rationale questioned

Earlier, Mohamed Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) questioned the rationale for the Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant Project, claiming it was not a pressing need as figures proved there was sufficient raw water in Selangor to meet current demand.

Chin said, according to the National Water Services Commission (Span), the capacity of the water reserves until Oct 22, was 0.97 percent, which was regarded as low.

"That is the figure we have, it is not from me, but from Span. If we face a thin capacity like this, which is less that one percent, why don't we proceed with Langat 2?," he asked.

Chin said, if the state government could cooperate and agree on the matter, the ministry could carry on with the Langat 2 project for the future of the nation and its people.

Abdul Rahman Dahlan (BN-Kota Belud) said water was a national problem, not just that of the people of Selangor, as it involved industries and the economy of the nation and state.

"This is not a question of drawing up a new formula. Water is a problem for us all. We must plan for the future of the country," he said. The sitting continues tomorrow.

- Bernama