Deputy Energy, Water and Communications Minister Joseph Salang today defended the Pakatan Rakyat-led Selangor state government’s decision to give free water for its residents.

joseph salang anak gandum 00 Salang told the Dewan Rakyat that the state government was acting within its powers.

This is because a state government can change any term or condition found in an agreement signed with another party as long as there is a clause in the agreement allowing for such changes, he explained.

"Giving residents in Selangor the first 20 cubic meters free is within its (the state government) right," he said in answer to Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi (BN-Batu Pahat).

"It is limited (only) to the amount that the government feels it has the allocation to do so. If they want to do so by increasing the volume of water to be given free to Selangor residents, that is up to the state government," he added.

Puad had asked whether the Selangor government is allowed to change or nullify the terms or conditions contained in its agreement with water concessionaire Syabas for the free provision of water.

Dispute over cost

water paips Puad also alleged that the Selangor government had wrongly stated the cost of providing Selangor households with the free water as being RM4 for every 20 cubic meters, because the true cost according to the agreement with the concessionaire is RM11.40.

He said for one million households receiving the water, the cost is RM11.4 million and not RM4 million as stated by the Selangor government.

The provision of free water in Selangor, which the Pakatan coalition had announced as one of its election promises, is scheduled to take effect this June.

Salang revealed that there are 56 agreements and supplementary agreements with 14 concessionaires nationwide whose terms, including on water tariffs, are being reviewed between the concessionaires and the National Water Services Commission (Span).

Other than "updating" the concession agreements and making them "sustainable", the deputy minister said the agreements are also being reviewed so that they are viable for the concessionaires while being fair to consumers.

"We need not worry about what should or should not be negotiated. Span was set up (to protect) the national interests and will ensure for the concessionaires (that the agreements are) viable while the people will not be burdened with unreasonable water tariffs," he added.