YOURSAY ‘Khalid’s remarks defending his actions raise more questions than answers.’

Anwar backs Rafizi on disclosing water deal

Aries46: Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim's sudden unilateral action vis-a-vis inking the MOU (memorandum of understanding) with the federal government was brash, hasty and intriguing to say the least.

Not only that it has taken everyone by surprise, Khalid’s subsequent remarks defending his actions raise more questions than answers.

The concerns of the Selangorians are centred on the need for such haste to sign the deal bearing in mind that the concession companies together with the federal government had dragged this matter for the last five years.

Did Khalid manage to secure guarantees against possible cost overruns, future increase in tariffs and others that could have serious consequences for the people?

And why would an MOU be an ‘irrevocable’ agreement as claimed by DPM Muhyiddin Yassin and if it is so, who bears responsibility if the deal turns out unfavourable to the people of Selangor?

Ferdtan: Well done, PKR strategist Rafizi Ramli. No wonder you are put in the right department - you have pre-empted the issue of disclosing the ‘secret’ MOU to the public.

Maybe by this act of disclosing to the public, at possible risk to himself with the OSA (Official Secrets Act) hanging over him, he may have done a favour for Khalid; that the disclosure is a done thing.

Now Khalid can explain to the BN leaders that he cannot be faulted for such ‘infraction’ as he has no control over his party member.

It is a ‘win-win’ for Pakatan Rakyat government and the Selangorians, unless... (could it be otherwise?) Khalid himself is not happy with such act which lets the people knowing more than he wants them to know?

Mayvbwell: Yes, what is so secretive about the MOU? I am disappointed with Khalid’s statement.

In the first place, why didn’t Khalid put public disclosure of the MOU as one of the conditions? Wasn’t Khalid aware that transparency means public disclosure of the MOU is a must? I sincerely hope that Khalid knows what he is talking about.

Loyal Selangorian: Most of us are educated people. I don't think it is fair to condemn Khalid as being gutless.

There is a difference between the government and the party. Only the Umno government acts as if the party is the government.

Hence with regard to the disclosure of the MOU, every precaution must be taken in order not to be charged under the OSA (if indeed it is classified as such).

I do not take sides between PKR deputy president Azmin Ali and Khalid, but let's be fair in our criticism.

Badass: I disagree with Loyal Selangorian. Khalid's integrity in this matter is questionable. After all, the state government effort to be transparent, with Selcat (State Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency) and what not, now he is undoing everything what Pakatan has been preaching in Selangor.

The way Khalid is hiding behind the federal government should be telling enough.

LogicalMalaysian: Khalid cannot and shouldn't enter into an agreement that prevents disclosing its contents. We are talking about Pakatan here and it is welcoming that Anwar Ibrahim and Rafizi are in favour of disclosure.

The people are getting fed-up with Khalid. Why can't he wait until after the by-election to sign the deal?

Enough Khalid, now at least we can grasp the reason for the by-election - you have become too big for your shoes.

Copy of MOU online not the real deal, says exco

Eliza: The public interest requirement is paramount in any contract. Thus to avoid any mistrust, the full value chain of a water supply business (with revenue and costs and investment required of each stage, i.e. sourcing, inward logistics, treatment, storage pre- and post-treatment, distribution) must be disclosed for this critical national resource.

Onyourtoes: Exco member Elizabeth Wong, what a load of rubbish. If the Pakatan coalition (and the state government of Selangor) is committed to freedom of information, why can't such a condition be conveyed to the other party before the signing.

An MOU is subjected to mutual consent and agreement, is that not? The state government can always inform the other party that it is its policy to make the terms of the MOU public.

For goodness sake, this country has suffered enough due to opaqueness and non-disclosure of deals made by government and the cronies. We don’t need another nincompoop coalition to tell us why the MOU must be kept secret for now.

Southpaw: Wong, just make public the MOU for the people to judge for themselves. It’s pointless to say there are different versions of the MOU.

FellowMalaysian: If PKR is truly committed to the Freedom of Information Act, why sign a MOU with another party which abides by the Official Secrets Act wholeheartedly?

If you are so concerned about the spillover consequences in the stock market of the affected shares, the least you could do is to make the parties involved commit to a cutoff date before the MOU contents are released.

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