SHAH ALAM: The Federal and Selangor state governments must be transparent on the takeover cost of Syarikat Pengeluar Air Selangor Holdings (Splash), Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia (Awer) said.
Its president S. Piarapakaran said the people must not be kept in the dark over the amount needed to take over Splash, which has dragged on for several years.
“Why not both governments publish the estimation made by its respective independent valuers that were hired to assess the cost to takeover Splash?
"At that time, the ministry responsible, then known as Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry had hired an independent valuer and so did the Selangor state government after both parties could not come to an agreement.
“They had used taxpayers money to hire these valuers. So the 'rakyat' have every right to know the outcome of the assessment. There is no need to be secretive about it.
“Moreover, the Selangor state and federal governments are now under the administration of Pakatan Harapan.
"So I do not see any conflicts arising in the release of the takeover price, along with the concessionaire agreements, if that is possible,” Piarapakaran told NSTP today.
Piarapakaran said this when asked to comment on a statement made by former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who had claimed that the Selangor government will purchase Splash for a whopping RM2.7 billion.
Revealing this at a ceramah in Klang last night, Najib said the purchase is likely to be made in a day or two.
Najib also alleged that the payment is a far cry from what was stated by former Selangor menteri besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, who said the purchase would only cost RM250 million, a few years ago.
Piarapakaran said the cost to takeover Splash must be revealed the soonest possible and that it should not be delayed.
“This is so that the people themselves will be aware if there are differences in cost between the two independent valuers as well as the methodology that was used in the assessment.
“The cost must be made public as it is not only taxpayers money that is being used for the takeover. The cost of the purchase will also translate to the price of water tariff in the future and the people should not be burdened by this,” said Piarapakaran.
He added that Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari and Water, Land and Natural Resources minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar, should step down if the matter remained unresolved.