— The Malaysian Insider
Jul 19, 2012
JULY 19 — With the amount of water splashing around in Selangor these days, one would think any discussion about water would revolve around the abundance rather than the shortage of the liquid.
But this is Malaysia and today, we learn that Putrajaya has formed a special Cabinet Committee chaired by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to discuss the issue of the availability of treated water and the need for another treatment plant that will be ready at least two years down the road.
And that any shortage and rationing now is due to the recalcitrance of the Selangor government, run by Pakatan Rakyat (PR) – the political foes of Barisan Nasional (BN) which controls Putrajaya.
Add to the potent mix that could give votes to either side in the next elections is utility provider, Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) which is controlled by Tan Sri Rozali Ismail , who is also Selangor Umno treasurer.
The question is, is there really a water crisis or is it manufactured by Putrajaya in what is seen as an attempt to wrest back the country’s wealthiest and most industrialised state back to BN.
Doesn’t it look like strictly out of the standard political playbook to create a crisis and then come up with a solution favourable to the rakyat in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya?
Also, what can Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar, Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala, Federal Territories Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik and Green Technology, Energy and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin contribute to the solution?
On a political level, they are all part of the BN government and except for Chin, really have no ministerial relevance to the water issue.
Unless it’s because Noh is from Selangor Umno and Raja Nong Chik runs FT Umno?
And why not a bi-partisan panel? Or allow the National Water Services Commission (Span) to sort out the issue of raw water supply and treated water services?
And is PR really incompetent? Is a political solution all there is to it, with the great unwashed masses being let to suffer until they decide on a party that can ensure adequate water supply.
The lives of the largest concentration of Malaysians in the country, plus the number of expatriates and foreign workers are at risk here from reports of a water shortage.
Does any political coalition want to play with that and risk a backlash at the polls from Malaysians?
Don’t treat Malaysians the same way water is being treated – as political football. One might end up surprised with the score, just like
2008
#1 by monsterball on Thursday, 19 July 2012 - 6:22 pm
Now they blame the S’gore Govt confusing the consumers.
They say the core issue is not raw water but the supply of treated water.
Why did they not say so in the first place???
Every time you expose something….they seem to have a good answer. ….but if you leave it that way…out comes reasons for consumers to pay higher price without complaining.
First they lay down the fears and bad news.
Then they will squeeze consumers.
This time….all their tricks …big and small are exposed.
#2 by lkt-56 on Thursday, 19 July 2012 - 6:41 pm
Seriously, why should there be a shortage of treated water? Since there is an abindance of raw water it can only mean that the water treatment plants are not producing treated water in sufficient quantity. Are the plants operating at normal capacities or are they performing below par for some reasons. Both sides of the political divide are just not telling us the facts of what is happening. The state government seems to be insinuating that Syabas is sabotaging the state government but not giving any reasonable explanation as to why they suspect this to be the case. Can the state government gain access to operation data such as plant operation time, daily treated water production from each plant, etc. etc. These should shed some light on what is plaguing Syabas.
#3 by lkt-56 on Thursday, 19 July 2012 - 6:57 pm
I found this link which gave a fairly good picture on the present situation:
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/204125
#4 by Winston on Thursday, 19 July 2012 - 8:29 pm
So, these SOBs are creating problems where none existed?
That’s the way to wrest back the states under the PR, especially Penang and Selangor?
In fact, they have been creating problems non stop for the leaders of these two states.
The Malaysian voters will have these childish, under-handed ploys seared into their memory when they cast their votes in GE13.
This will negate the oft repeated and successful tactic used by one recalcitrant PM in the past.
And that is, “Malaysians have short memory”!
#5 by sheriff singh on Thursday, 19 July 2012 - 9:54 pm
Can it be, gasp !!, that Muhyiddin Yassin has been appointed the scapegoat ? He is a tokkok man, a gundu even, and he has been put in charge !! Let us see how he bungles it.
The other supporting actors are really there for show tasked with trying to give this committee some legitimacy which alas it will not have.
Oh by the way, no MIC member included? Not even the hand-kisser ?
#6 by sheriff singh on Thursday, 19 July 2012 - 9:57 pm
Moderated yet again because of a word, a name this time, containing ‘a.s’ in it. Here is the ‘clean’ version:
Can it be, gasp !!, that Muhyiddin Ya.sin has been appointed the scapegoat ? He is a tokkok man, a gundu even, and he has been put in charge !! Let us see how he bungles it.
The other supporting actors are really there for show tasked with trying to give this committee some legitimacy which alas it will not have.
Oh by the way, no MIC member included? Not even the hand-kisser or any sycophant ? Tsk. Tsk.
#7 by Bigjoe on Thursday, 19 July 2012 - 10:04 pm
From Day 1 of Privatisation of Selangor water, Tan Sri Rozali Ismail has been involved in one controversy after another – each time using his political connections to resolved the problem or not answer it as the case may be..He is a classic UMNO crony as they come from the good old days..
There is NO WAY, this issue is not manufactured against the opposition..
#8 by yhsiew on Thursday, 19 July 2012 - 11:37 pm
The special Cabinet Committee chaired by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has evil intentions. I do not think the Committee is fighting for the interest of Selangorians, but rather arm-twisting them so as to wrest Selangor back to BN.
#9 by sheriff singh on Friday, 20 July 2012 - 12:20 am
Is it true that Putrajaya is using up all the water that is needed elsewhere? Are they using and maybe wasting water there on unnecessary things? What is the amount of water Putrajaya uses every day? Is water being diverted there at the expense of other places while they enjoy?
#10 by monsterball on Friday, 20 July 2012 - 5:13 am
It seems that the Communists are helping PR to take over.
That’s our Police Special Branch report.
You keep reading the many idiotic reasons…you feel very sorry for some children from these people.
Somehow the present Government really want to govern forever or at least until all the robbers and thieves are as old as Mahathir.
What kind of Police Special Branch is this…giving the most ridiculous and idiotic reasons.
#11 by monsterball on Friday, 20 July 2012 - 5:24 am
Rias Yatim said Bersih is Dirty.
Special Branch says Communists….helping PR.
Ibrahim Ali said Christians are converting Muslims.
Mahathir also said PR politicians are poisoning minds to topple the Government.
He said he was not a Dictator.
He said PR politicians are liars.
Najib said Traitors are also helping PR to take over.
He asked all Malaysians to trust him.
You keep on reading what they say…you will laugh till stomach aches.
Not one says…Malaysians are saying….time to change and get rid of corruptions and race issues.
#12 by undertaker888 on Friday, 20 July 2012 - 7:40 am
And RPK thru his “subliminal” messages is diluting support for PR especially those fence sitters.
#13 by dagen wanna "ABU" on Friday, 20 July 2012 - 11:55 am
Lampar!
#14 by sheriff singh on Friday, 20 July 2012 - 12:22 pm
Are you referring to Kuala Lampar ? Why not Putrijaya ?
#15 by cseng on Friday, 20 July 2012 - 2:16 pm
They say the core issue is not raw water but the supply of treated water. Then they say the dry spell worsen the crisis. How dry spell corelates to treated water?… so funny, still syabas!
#16 by boh-liao on Saturday, 21 July 2012 - 1:02 am
UmnoB/BN making use of their cronies 2 punish rakyat who live in PR-controlled states
Dis is ABUSE of power
#17 by waterfrontcoolie on Saturday, 21 July 2012 - 9:19 am
Let us look from the positive side of this event. This clearly shows that BN is bent on preserving the current status of wrinking dry the nation. Let this issue drags on until the GE. It will open up the eyes of those still slumbering in their sleep. I like the developments of this event as played out be Khalid, just let Selangoreans just the action of BN. They intended to make Selangoreans suckers oout of the issue; squeezing them dry to support their cronies from whom they will collect their dues! If the avearage Malaysians cannot see through all these trickeries, then they deserved to be screwed forever!
#18 by sheriff singh on Saturday, 21 July 2012 - 11:47 am
SYABAS owes about RM 2.8 billion. Its Chairman and CEO earns and costs the company and the public more than RM 5 MILLION per year.
How is it that a loss making and inefficient company is paying its top executives about RM 500,000 per month, a large sum, for their incompetence?
BN and the Cabinet Committee headed by Muhyiddin should be ‘pragmatic’ and ‘practical’ (to use his own words) and not hold the people to ransom. They should be more open, responsible, transparent and accountable to the people.
Is Putrajaya using too much water there for their upkeep? Maybe they should not use up so much water for their plants, gardens and other needs during the dry seasons.
Let us have another Bersih (not that Bersih 1, 2, 3) headed by someone else to ensure that the public in Selangor and FTs have enough water to wash and clean themselves and stay clean.
I propose that the Selangor government takes the lead for rallies to nail down Peter Chin, Rev Idris, Yiddin etc and the SYABAS leadership for their foul play.