Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) prepares a five-year masterplan (2015 to 2019) involving capital expenditure of RM4.3 billion.

The masterplan is in preparation to take over the management of the water industry in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya by the Selangor government, which is expected in September.

Syabas executive chairperson Rozali Ismail said a key component of the plan is to increase the treated water supply capacity by at least 25 percent (1,600 million litres per day) which required a total expenditure of around RM1.9 billion.

“If the operation and maintenance of water plants administered by Puncak Niaga through Syabas could be handed over to Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary company under the Selangor government on Sept 13, Syabas will present and discuss this plan with the Selangor government.

“But if this matter is delayed again (no handover on Sept 13), Syabas will still present the plan to the Selangor and federal governments (Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry),” he told a press conference yesterday.

Rozali, who is also the Puncak Niaga (M) Sdn Bhd executive chairperson, said Sept 13 is the deadline for the federal and Selangor governments to solve the related problems regarding the handover of the water industry following the signing of the supplementary agreement to the Water Industry Restructuring Master Agreement on July 10.

The signing of the supplementary agreement involving the federal government, Selangor government, Pengurusan Aset Air Bhd, and Air Selangor saw the parties to the agreement given 60 days to fulfil the condition precedents to the master agreement.

Rozali said the five-year masterplan also would be focusing on reduce non-revenue water loss with target savings up to 25 percent, which required a cost of around RM1.05 billion.

Optimistic about the capability and sincerity of the Selangor government to take over the water industry in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya, Rozali said the masterplan is also to enhance the quality of services to domestic and commercial consumers, to upgrade water supply system assets, and to modernise the operating process through application of the latest technology in all aspects of operations.

- Bernama