A consumer group has warned PKR not to jeopardise the water deal between the Selangor and the federal governments with its internal bickering for the position of the state’s menteri besar.

Consumers Association of Subang and Shah Alam (Cassa) president Jacob George said consumers are already worried whether the state has adequate water supply.

“I admire the way that he (Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim) has addressed and tried to solve the water issue in the state with a very open and dynamic discourse with the powers-that-be in Putrajaya, and he should be allowed to finish the job.

“I don’t think that job should be scuttled, or hijacked or (derailed) by a political agenda against him personally. What I am saying is keep your personal politics outside, this is the administration of the state,” Jacob told a press conference today.

He also threatened to hold a protest at PKR’s headquarters if the water deal is not ironed out in one month from today.

Khalid had signed the memorandum of understanding with the federal government on Feb 26, allowing the state government to proceed with its takeover of the four water concessionaires in the state as part of its water restructuring exercise.

In return, the federal government would get the necessary paperwork to proceed with the Langat 2 water treatment plant project which will be supplied with raw water from Pahang.

Jacob ( left ) said based on the many meetings he had with the federal government - including with the prime minister and his deputy - major issues involved in the deal have already been resolved and only the details are still under discussion.

Which means that the only remaining stumbling block is the bickering within PKR and Pakatan Rakyat, he said.

However, to a question, he said he respects both Khalid and his proposed replacement Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, and does not want to take sides in the ongoing fight.

PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim last month announced that his party was proposing Wan Azizah as Khalid’s replacement .

However, Khalid has remained defiant , saying that the replacement of a menteri besar needs to follow due process, rather than being chosen by “one group of people”.

As the crisis continues, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin expressed concern whether it would affect the water deal, which in turn could undermine the adequate supply of water for Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.

Meanwhile, Jacob took PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli to task for his statement that the state government would revise the water agreement once Wan Azizah becomes menteri besar.

“When Kak Wan (Wan Azizah) comes in, the entire Selangor water restructuring deal will need to be relooked, including the Langat 2 project that was signed in a hurry by the state government headed by Khalid.

“It is too early to comment on the details but it is definite that there will be a change in value (of the water deals agreed upon with water concessionaires) and the variation,” The Edge Financial Daily quoted Rafizi as saying in a July 23 report.

Jacob, who was also speaking today as the Consumer’s Movement of Selangor (GPNS) chairperson, said this is an attempt to “politicise” the agreement.

He said there should be continuity in the state government, and no one would trust the government if it changes agreements according to the “political weather of the day”.