CYBERJAYA: The Selangor government is only good at “sandiwara” (to put up a show) to distract and fool people, instead of actually caring for their welfare.
Commenting on the ongoing water woes in the state, Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar said it had been riding on the efforts and contributions made by the Federal Government for the state’s people.
He said the Federal Government has spent billions of ringgit to develop and operate the Sungai Labu retention pond in Sepang before handing it over to be managed by the state government.
“The Federal Government also spent billions of ringgit on the raw water transfer project from Pahang to Selangor and the Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant.
“The Federal government gave a hefty sum of money to the Selangor government to pay for the takeover of water concessionaire companies, including Puncak Niaga Holdings Bhd, Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd, Konsortium Abbas Sdn Bhd and Syarikat Pengeluar Air Selangor Holdings Bhd,” he said today at the launch of the 1Malaysia Kembara Kebajikan Programme at the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia in Pulau Meranti, Puchong, Selangor.
“The Selangor government cannot say that it has been doing a lot for the people, including providing free water, when a big part of the allocation came from the Federal Government’s pocket,” he said.
“The state government has not paid back a single sen to the Federal Government despite collecting water charges.”
Selangor residents are constantly plagued by water disruption.
From last Tuesday, 427 areas in the Klang Valley began experiencing water supply disruption in stages, including Kuala Lumpur, Gombak, Petaling, Hulu Selangor, Kuala Langat, Shah Alam and Klang.
Noh who is also Selangor Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman said, besides taking the initiative to provide water for the state’s people, the Federal Government also allocated RM120 million for aid and programmes that benefited some 34,000 people yearly.
“The state government only allocates RM15 million to benefit 4,000 people and they brag in every way possible just to distract the people and make it look as if the Federal Government hasn’t done anything for the people,” he added.
The state government’s failures included garbage collection and management problems, and a growing number of dengue cases, he added.
Noh said if BN was able to win back the state in the general election, the government would review the high assessment rates imposed on the public.