KUALA LUMPUR, 6 March 2009: Selangor has roped in the help of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and a union to back its bid to regain control of water distribution in the state.
At a press conference in parliament yesterday, the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) and the Coalition Against Water Privatisation (CAWP) handed a memorandum to support the Selangor government.
“Selangor must not back down from its efforts to reclaim management of water in the state,” said MTUC president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamad.
“We would also like to remind the Selangor government that access to affordable water is a fundamental human right.”
Selangor had offered RM5.7 billion to take over the complete assets of the four concessionaires – Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd, Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) and Syarikat Pengeluar Air Sungai Selangor Sdn Bhd (Splash) and Konsortium Abass Sdn Bhd (Abass).
Read more here.
This article first appeared on 6 March 2009 in The Edge Financial Daily under the title Union, NGOs back Selangor’s water bid. Used with permission.
