A parliamentary select committee will be set up to examine public concerns over the transfer of power to manage water supply to the federal government in Peninsular Malaysia.

The committee will gather public and industry feedback on the National Water Services Commission Bill and Water Industry Bill, both of which will be tabled in the March 21 parliamentary sitting for first reading.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz, who oversees parliamentary affairs, said the cabinet had agreed to this today.

He said the select committee will be chaired by Energy, Water and Communications Minister Dr Lim Keng Yaik and will comprise six others MPs including those from the opposition.

"The cabinet's decision was made in line with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's emphasis that water is a sensitive issue. It was also based on a request by the Backbenchers Club head Shahrir Samad," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

Timeframe set

According to Nazri, Shahrir made the request to the premier during a meeting on Monday, when Parliament was convened for a three-day special sitting.

A similar suggestion was made by several parliamentarians included Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang during the two-day parliamentary debate.

Elaborating, Nazri said the two bills will be tabled in the March sitting for first reading and then referred to the select committee to gather public views before the second reading.

"In views of the urgency, the committee is expected to be allocate three to six months to furnish its findings. We hope both bills will be passed by the end of this year," he said.

To a question, Nazri said the committee is expected to hear views from the people in Sabah and Sarawak too, although the two states are covered by the constitutional amendment that facilitated the transfer of power.

Yesterday, Parliament passed the Constitution Amendment Bill 2004 to enable the tabling of the two bills. The Senate passed the bill at 6.30pm today through block voting at 54 for with four against.

Parliamentarians had earlier this week voiced concern that the water tariff would be increased in time, while citizen's groups argued that the move, which will pave way for the privatisation of water supply, would deprive consumers of the basic right of access to water.

Abdullah said yesterday that there is no guarantee that water tariff will not go up. Previously, the government had stated that the current tariff would be retained for at least two years.

Two parliamentary select committees have been formed since last May, namely the committee on the proposed amendment to the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) and the unity and national service select committee.

The committee to study the CPC - headed by de facto law minister Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad - has gone on a nationwide roadshow nationwide to gather public views.

Sabah and Sarawak

During the special one-day Senate sitting today, a few senators questioned why Sabah and Sarawak have been excluded from the ambit of the constitutional amendment.

Senator Dayang Mahani Ahmad Raffae from Sabah indicated that the state too has a problem with good management of water supply. She also reminded the government to be transparent in its agreement with water concessionaires.

Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff from Kelantan asked the government which party would be responsible if Sabah and Sarawak continue to face problems with management of water supply. Another question was linked to compensation if there is a loss of state revenue.

In addition, she asked why the government has rushed into passing the bill, when public consultations should first be carried out.

Sharing the sentiments, Rhina Bhar from Penang said senators should have been informed of the special sitting much earlier and that about two to three days should have been allocated for the debate.

Parliamentarians were only given a month's notice on the special sitting.