Khalid - State would takeover Syabas by December

THE Selangor government will take over Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) if it is able to strike a deal that will benefit the people and the state.

Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said the state was doing its best to restructure the water supply system to ensure consumers pay as little as possible for water.

“We want the water restructuring plan to be done at the lowest cost while Syabas wants a much higher price.

“It is normal in business that the seller always wants to make the most profit from any deal while the buyer wants the lowest price,’’ Khalid told the state assembly in response to a written question from Yap Ee Wah (BN - Sungai Pelek).


Khalid: We want the water restructuring plan to be done at the lowest cost while Syabas wants a much higher price.

However, Khalid said he was not in a position to reveal the cost of the takeover as it would be made known to the public after the deal had been made.

“I cannot reveal the amount now but rest assured that we will only agree to a price that benefits the state and the people of Selangor.

“Hopefully, we will be able to announce it by December,” he said.

Khalid said that the plan for the restructuring of the water industry in Selangor was first proposed by the Federal government about four years ago.

“The privitisation of the water industry had resulted in several companies handling treatment and distribution of water.

“Syabas, Syarikat Pengeluar Air Sungai Selangor Sdn Bhd (Splash) and Konsortium Abbas Sdn Bhd are currently involved in processing and distributing water in the state,’’ he said.

Khalid said the state had also set-up a review committee which he headed to oversee the restructuring of the water industry.

He said the state was serious in its efforts to ensure that the people paid less for water.

“The restructuring will see the people benefiting from lower water tariff charges unlike now where the companies are more interested in reaping profits,’’ he added. (TheStar)