An opposition MP demanded Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) to compensate consumers affected by the water crisis, especially the low-income residents, or distribute a special disaster fund to them.

This is one of the six demands listed in a memorandum submitted to the water service provider by PKR's Ampang MP Zuraida Kamarudin today during a meeting with Syabas chief executive officer Ruslan Hassan.

NONE The memorandum also urged Syabas to tender an open apology to all victims of the water crisis and those affected by Syabas' late deployment of water tanks.

However, she said the concessionaire failed to address her demands, including an assurance that the water crisis will not be repeated, as well as an apology or compensation.

“There was no apology because I want (Syabas executive chairperson) Rozali (Ismail) to personally apologise. On the issue of compensation, they said it was not their responsibility, but they will convey the message to the chairperson.

“We asked whether the problem can be completely solved after Chinese New Year, and they said no,” she told reporters after the meeting.

The other demands in the memorandum want Syabas to explain the issue of faulty water pumps and the reason behind the delay of fixing the pumps, and announce the actions to mitigate the crisis which will allegedly prolong until Chinese New Year.

Short-term solution

According to Zuraida, Syabas told her the firm can only provide a short-term solution to the crisis which has hit some 100,000 residents in the Klang valley since Dec 28.

NONE Syabas will build bypass water pipes to distribute water directly from the treatment plant in three days, but these can only last for one year, and residents will face the problem of low water pressure.

“The five water pumps at the Wangsa Maju pump house have been repaired but to prevent the same problem from repeating, Syabas did not restore full supply resulting in low water pressure in some areas,” said the PKR Wanita chief.

The water concessionaire also updated her that the number of affected residents has dropped to 28,000.

It blamed the enduring tussle between the federal government and the state government over the restructuring of water service and the Langat 2 water treatment plant which is the reason behind the delay of the construction of new pump house, said Zuraida.

“That is an issue between them but what we want to seriously look at today is the water crisis faced by the residents,” she added.