KUALA LUMPUR: The Selangor government should stop dragging its feet over the acquisition of Syarikat Pengeluar Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Splash).
Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Maximus Johnity Ongkili said the Selangor government had politicised the issue to the point that it is difficult to resolve water woes in the state.
"The state government has yet to offer a price for the takeover process.
"In Selangor, everything is politicised, which is why it is so difficult to resolve the water problem," he said in reply to Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali (Gombak-PKR) during the Minister's Question Time today.
He added that the price evaluation by an international independent valuer on Splash is meant to provide a reference for the Federal government on pricing.
He said this will enable the Federal government to determine if the price offered by the Selangor government is fair.
"It's not difficult for the state government to give a price. Be an 'ayam jantan' (rooster) and make an offer for Splash," he said.
The deadline to conclude the takeover of Splash was initially set for April this year but has been extended for another six months.
The Gombak MP revealed this at the Selangor state legislative assembly in March, citing that the Federal government was still waiting for the results of the valuation of Splash from an international independent valuer it had appointed.
Selangor's water restructuring exercise had dragged on for nine years.
Under the water restructuring plans, the Selangor government, via Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd, is seeking ownership and control of the state water industry through a buyout of the concessionaires' assets.
Splash is one of four water concessionaires in Selangor.
The others are Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd, Puncak Niaga (M) Sdn Bhd and Konsortium Abass Sdn Bhd.