Selangor exco member Ahmad Yunus Hairi has accepted the challenge to drink water sourced from mining ponds to prove that it is safe for consumption.

"God willing, we can proceed with the test having been clarified of the water’s safety by Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim earlier," he said.

Yesterday, the Selangor exco members were dared by the Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) to drink treated water samples from former mining ponds to prove the water is safe.

C4 director Cynthia Gabriel stated this was to put to rest contradicting statements on whether it is advisable to source water from the abandoned mining pools.

Cloud seeding operations

Ahmad Yunus ( right in photo ) reiterated his assurance that the water from the mining pool, which has been pumped into the Selangor River to increase the dam’s water level, is safe.

He added that there has been complications in the co-operative efforts between the state government and  'Bureau of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation of Thailand' in proceeding with cloud seeding as the neighbouring country is going through a drought.

"The information I have received for the time being is that they (the bureau) are currently busy with the drought season, we have tried our level best in our own cloud seeding processes and are keenly awaiting results," he said.

Cloud seeding and the pumping of pond water into the river are among the efforts taken by the Selangor government in ensuring that there is no water shortage during the harsh weather caused by "El Nino".

Previously, the Selangor MB had also stated that the state government will see to the installation of 20 pumps in nine main ponds at two rivers to ensure that there is a supply of at least 800 million liters of water per day.