KUALA LUMPUR: Pengurusan Aset Air Bhd (PAAB) is optimistic that the transfer of water assets in Selangor to the company can be completed ahead of the 60-day expiration deadline.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Datuk Ahmad Faizal Abdul Rahman said cooperation from all parties were good as there was mutual understanding that if they did not move on from this successfully, the deal would not go through.
“Negotiations are proceeding smoothly, and I believe there is no problem to resolve the water crisis for Selangor earliest by the end of August.
“We will do this as soon as possible…as long as this issue is not resolved the Langat 2 project cannot carry on smoothly,” he told reporters on the sidelines of PAAB’s Aidilfitri Open House here, today.
The water restructuring Supplemental Agreement was signed on July 10 by Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water Secretary-General Datuk Loo Took Gee, Selangor State Secretary Datuk Mohamed Khusrin Munawi, Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd CEO Suhaimi Kamaral Zaman and Ahmad Faizal.
The signatories have 60 days to fulfill the Condition Precedents in the principal agreement.
On the Langat 2 project, Ahmad Faizal said the progress was at a 22 per cent completion rate.
“We are waiting for the Selangor government to release all permits and approvals, which are expected after the completion of the water supply services restructuring,” he said.
When asked whether water tariff would increase after the water supply services restructuring was completed, Ahmad Faizal said: “It is not PAAB’s responsibility to look at water rate as it is the prerogative of the respective state governments.
But as far as I know, water rate is not going to go up.” — Bernama