Azmin asked to break down RM7.65b water deal

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Selangor Umno Youth wants Menteri Besar Azmin Ali to explain in detail the balance of the acquisition cost for the restructuring of the state's water industry.

The Umno-Online portal quoted Selangor Umno Youth chief Zainuri Zakaria asd saying that the explanation was exceptionally important so that the rakyat would know the breakdown of the acquisition ( photo ).

Zainuri's demand comes after former Selangor menteri besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim pointed out that Azmin only clarified the RM2 billion cost but did not emphasise on the balance of the acquisition cost of RM7.65 billion.

Meanwhile, for Zainuri, since the opposition always asked for explanation on any expenditure made by states under Barisan Nasional, it was only appropriate that the same is done for states administered by the opposition.

"They always talk about good governance, integrity, accountability and many other things. (Since) there is nothing to hide, it is based on that principle that we ask the state government to explain the matter in detail.

"There's no use to talk about transparency and such if you are not capable of practising it in your own states.

"As a former menteri besar, he (Khalid, photo ) can't be purposely making baseless claims," he said.

Zainuri also denied that Selangor Umno Youth wanted to turn the matter into a political one, rather, pointing out that it was about accountability on the state government's part.

"This is not a political thing. This involves the rakyat because we are also worried that there will be a change in the water tariff in the future," he said.

Khalid on Tuesday said clarification by Azmin was crucial as it was feared that it would push up the cost of acquiring the water concession company which would have an effect on the water tariff and subsequently burden the people of Selangor.

“If the state government cannot explain to the rakyat on the breakdown of the RM9.65 billion (the original offer made by the state government on the acquisition), then there is a subsequent cost increase; it means that it will have an impact on the future price of water,” he had said.



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