Khalid, stop trading barbs, find water solution

comments     Yoursay     Published     Updated

YOURSAY ' Give back our right to uninterrupted supply of treated water.'

 

'Lessons for Pua' sparks war of words with MB

 

ONG: It appears Selangor Mentero Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim gave his hollow and meaningless guarantee to consumers because he was unaware that Syabas can 'play-play' with him at will and with impunity.

 

Unfortunately the 'main-main' by Syabas with our useless MB is to the detriment of the average consumer. Rich consumers are not significantly affected because I see many of them installing extra storage tanks, enough for easily one week's supply of treated water.

 

If Khalid is worth anything, instead of trading barbs with his Pakatan critics, he should thank them, accept their criticisms, and start working on a strategy to overcome the 'main-main' by Syabas, with the aim of giving back to us our right to uninterrupted supply of treated water.

 

It is also time the MB starts to dismantle the free 20 cubic meters nonsense. I am sure most consumers are more interested in uninterrupted supply rather than free 20 cubic meters of water per month.

 

Savings from this pales in comparison with cost of frequently interrupted supply.

 

Fair Play: Frankly, I think it would be really stupid for Khalid to engage PJ Utara MP Tony Pua in a game of 'tit for tat'.

 

Pua is far too smart and will counter easily whatever Khalid throws at him. The biggest mistake Khalid made was to give his 'guarantee' when he is not really in charge of the water matter.

 

In fact, as far as the Selangor rakyat are concerned, Khalid's promises are just words - empty promises especially when it came so soon after his guarantee. Khalid has to admit that he has been outplayed, outclassed and utterly humiliated by Syabas.

 

A competent corporate player might become completely incompetent in the game of high stakes politics, I suppose.

 

Casey: There are many ways to steal or rob the rakyat, directly or indirectly. One can cut a deal with concessionaires for ’piratisation’ projects - water and toll roads for example; getting a slice of the grossly inflated payouts while the additional cost incurred is conveniently defrayed to and paid for by the rakyat for decades to come.

 

Before Khalid commits the state government, and by extension the people of Selangor, to an insane and callous RM9.65 billion payout, he should have explored vehemently all alternative avenues, including but not limited to getting professional valuation or constructing new treatment plants at a fraction of that, and persuading the concessionaires to come to their senses on the exorbitant asking price.

 

But that seems not to be the case. Khalid's deals have always been wrapped under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) and couched in secrecy until they blow out of proportion.

 

Waktamnoko: The fact is that the same problem has happened again. So what has the Pakatan government been doing for the past few months other than giving 'unfulfilled guarantees'? Is this the best they can do?

 

Patriot1 : Why is it that Selangor pays so much for the water assets but yet does not seem to have the full authority to run the water assets companies?

 

It appears that Syabas is still running independent of the Selangor government.

 

Damntlwbn: To the leaders of Pakatan, to save Selangor by hook or by crook Khalid has to go - the sooner the better. He is a big baggage now.

 

lvbala: Khalid and Pua, We want water problem to be resolved. Not interested in your dramas. Solve the problem or you both will end up with nothing in the next election.

 

Saintonthego: The MB has screwed up many issues and especially this one, when he recently played with the devil who promised the problem will be resolved. He should resign immediately. He has sinned.

 

Interested bystander: Usually I admire Pua but in this case I am on the side of Khalid. We surely don't want someone like Azmin Ali replacing him.

 

Kawak: Khalid, don’t behave like a typical Umno MB or minister by being arrogant and perpetually suffering from a denial syndrome. Accept criticism and look at the problem objectively. Try to lessen the impact of Syabas sabotage.

 

Apa nama: Being a corporate man once upon a time, I am surprised why Khalid is not proactive and prepare a Plan B. He should know Syabas’ political game from day one.

 

He should also be well aware that all these political games are being played only in Selangor and Penang.

 

If he knew that, why he is not willing to spend a portion of that RM3 billion ringgit in the state coffers to solve the water woes faced by Selangorians?

 

BN sold 35 times more land for less money'

 

Wandering Star: Was that not the main reason why Umno/BN was discarded and rejected by the electorate of Penang? Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng,, there is no need to justify your administration’s fair and transparent actions.

 

Anonymous #88188: Penangites should also realise that much land in Province Wellesley was sold and transferred to BN cronies before 2008.

 

Samurai: Strange how Penang Gerakan screams about this now and about hillship development sealed during BN's time, but were quiet as a mouse in those days. Perhaps the problem is not of Pakatan selling land, but of not being on the receiving end of the sales at bargain bin prices this time, Gerakan?

 

Too Lan: Guan Eng should publish in detail these land deals where, how much and sold to whom? Let Malaysians see who the crooks are.

 

Hplooi: Can the same practices of Penang be implemented in Selangor?

 

1) public tender of state land

 

2) increase of funds to build affordable housing for Selangorians (not based on the SPN, TPPT or PRIMA model which uses the 'usahasama model'; said model in reality are sweetheart deals to reward political grandees).

 

3) Allocate money to develop/build a world class public transportation system for Selangor, starting with Petaling Jaya.

 

Avoid keeping too large a surplus in reserves (non-performing money kept in reserves for too long is actually a bad investment decision, especially when it involves government spending and reserve - check classical macroeconomics on government spending).

 

Use reserves to fund state development as aforesaid. Despite two terms and accumulating a large reserves, Selangor and especially Petaling Jaya has seen deteriorating services; roads, public safety, public transportation especially is in a shambles.

 

Learn from Penang, work with Singapore or any like-minded organisation. As a ratepayer in Selangor since 1990, I am extremely dissatisfied with the state of affairs and governance in Selangor.

 

If no change is imminent, I would strongly advocate the establishment of a third force to take over Selangor.

 

Prudent: It is hard to implement the same in Selangor. The MB is confused between public and private sector finance. He wants to accumulate finance surplus instead.

 

Each ringgit of surplus actually represents a ringgit of public works/projects NOT done and that should be done.


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