BN uses Pasir Gudang water shortage to hose down opponents

A four-day water shortage in Pasir Gudang, Johor is turning political, with BN seizing on the issue to hose down its opponents.

The coalition - which runs the state government - has mobilised its machinery to help deliver water to affected residents and is making a splash about it on social media.

The water shortage began last Friday after a pipe burst in Bandar Seri Alam.

Checks on social media found that PKR’s Pasir Gudang incumbent Hassan Karim had raised the matter to state water concessionaire Ranhill SAJ (SAJ) on Saturday - with the latter assuring that it was sending out water trucks to affected users.

The next day, Hassan had gone to the site of the burst pipe.

Pasir Gudang Umno also began to voice out on the issue on Saturday, with Permas assemblyperson Baharudin Mohamed Taib expressing concern that water trucks have not reached over a dozen badly affected areas.

Political pressure on the matter increased when a complaint was made on Sunday to Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim - who then got in touch with SAJ.

That same day, BN began mobilising its machinery, with party members decked out in BN vests and t-shirts going around town to deliver water to affected residents.

It started with pickup trucks carrying water tanks visiting neighbourhoods, and eventually scaled up to water tankers.

This was followed by a social media blitz of the coalition’s efforts to help the people of Pasir Gudang, while also taking jabs at their opponents.

In one post retweeted by Pasir Gudang Umno Youth chief Azleen Ambros, a BN party worker thumped about how BN worked no matter rain or shine.

“This is the service given by BN machinery in Pasir Gudang. Even during the rain, the distribution of clear water continues.

“The machinery of other parties from Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional are nowhere to be seen. So don’t be hesitant to reject them in the 15th general election," read the tweet by one Mohd Khatim.

PKR and Harapan, in contrast, were not doing as well in promoting their efforts on social media.

So far, there appears to be just one video showing a compilation of Hassan visiting affected residents receiving water aid - and helping some of them carry their water buckets.

The same video also showed Hassan and Pasir Gudang PKR delivering water to one affected area - Taman Megah Ria - last night.

The video appears to have only been posted on Tiktok and has less than 500 views as of writing.

When contacted, Hassan did not discount the possibility that the BN state government - who is in charge of SAJ - was politicising the issue.

He also criticised SAJ for being inefficient.

Among others, he said SAJ has not released a schedule for water delivery to affected areas, and even after four days the number of water tankers being sent out by the concessionaire was insufficient.

“SAJ’s water tankers are not enough, there are just a few and they are small.

“I suggested that SAJ rent more private water tankers. The suggestion was received but until today there is nothing,” he told Malaysiakini.

He added that SAJ’s claims that water tankers from Malacca would be helping have also not materialised.

As for work to repair the burst pipe, Hassan said it is still ongoing.

Hassan said Johor exco Mohd Fazli Mohd Salleh had informed him that the cause of the burst pipe had been identified and that they are now trying to pump out the water so repair works can be done.

Hassan said he will also try to find ways to help.

“I will go to the location and see what we can do, I will try to get a contractor to help if permitted,” he said.

The PKR incumbent said Fazli had also assured him that additional water tankers will be deployed starting today.

PKR had captured Pasir Gudang from BN in 2018, with Hassan securing a 24,726-vote majority against former Johor menteri besar Khaled Nordin.

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