Selangor’s plan to provide the first 20 cubic meter of water free to its residents has hit a hitch as the federal government has the right to overrule the state government’s decision.

According to Energy, Waters and Telecommunications Minister Shaziman Abu Mansor, the state government must first get approval from the federal government before implementing its free-water policy.

Shaziman’s statement in Parliament today appeared to contradict his deputy, Joseph Salang, who yesterday told the House that the state government was acting within its powers in implementing the proposal.

“The Selangor Pakatan government must first iron out the process of implementing the proposal as it must be compatible with existing concessions. This is because the Selangor Water Supplier Company (Syabas) will still have to bear the costs of providing services to its clients,” said Shaziman.

“The Selangor government must abide with the provisions under the Water Industry Act 2006, which was gazetted on Jan 1 this year,” added the minister in his winding-up speech during the debate on the royal address.

At this point, Mohd Puad Zarkashi (Umno-Batu Pahat) took the opportunity to attack the Pakatan initiative by saying that the PKR-led state government had no powers to determine the price of water.

“They calculated that the subsidy will amount up to RM4 million when the real amount set by Syabas was RM11.50 a cubic meter, so (for one million households) it should be RM11.5 million. How did they determine the cost is RM4 million? Do they have the authority to do so?” blasted Puad.

Shaziman in his reply said that only the National Water Services Commission (Span) can determine water tariffs and stressed that the state government must first consult with the federal agency if they wish to alter the water charges.

The minister also said that if the Selangor government wishes to implement its free-water policy, it must pay the cost from the state coffers. He stressed that the concession agreement inked by Span and Syabas cannot be altered.

State government, Syabas in discussion

Meanwhile, Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim (PKR-Bandar Tun Razak), who was present in the House, explained that he was in discussion with the water company regarding the state government’s intention of implementing the proposal.

“The profit they are making is enormous. We want to discuss with Syabas on the proper profit margin they should be receiving (so that this could lessen the burden of the rakyat),” he said.

Khalid also revealed that he had already made plans to discuss with the relevant ministries regarding the policy and hope that the outcome of the meetings would be positive.

PKR, in its pre-election manifesto, had promised to provide the first 20 cubic meter of water free to Selangor households.

Barisan MPs have dismissed the proposal as a political gimmick and argued that the idea, if implemented, would encourage people to waste water.