LETTER: Another water cut. It happens again and again and again. Two days ago, Air Selangor Sdn Bhd issued a media statement on water disruptions, scheduled in some districts of Selangor, that would last for two days.
And early this morning, for the umpteenth time, it issued another statement on a stop-work order on its Phase 1,2,3 and Rantau Panjang water treatment plants, causing unscheduled water cuts to some 1,196,457 accounts in the state.
Air Selangor said the contamination was traced in the wee hours of the morning today. And as usual, the normal assurances to console or pacify affected households followed – that water trucks to the affected areas would be mobilised, with priority given to critical premises such as hospitals and dialysis centres.
Regrettably, as far as annoying water cuts are concerned, the Selangor State Government doesn't seem to have learned its lesson at all. Imagine those poor residents having to endure dry taps for days.
Not to mention those with big families, including their little ones and the elderly, in flats or apartments! How is it possible for those affected, especially the elderly and the disabled, to carry loads and buckets of water up to their respective units!
And with Covid-19 cases surging, how do you expect people to come out and queue up to stock up on water? It will be nearly impossible to practise physical distancing.
Those who are affluent and rich can always opt out to stay at hotels, but what about most of the affected, who struggle to make ends meet? I believe the majority of us come under this category.
Does the Selangor Menteri Besar or even his state executive councillor in charge of public utilities or anybody else responsible for this problem, really have their thoughts on the welfare and wellbeing of the people?
How could they just let these pollution and maintenance problems recur, with no solution in sight! This is really disappointing.
The very least they could do is remember that they are elected to their respective posts by the rakyat. If any of them are incapable of solving the issue, be dignified enough to claim responsibility or step down.
This is because as far as those living in Selangor and the Klang Valley are concerned, the effects of these multiple disruptions have reached a devastating stage.
There have to be solutions to this problem. It just can't go on and on and on, forever. Pity the people.
NUR AFIQAH MUHAMMAD
Gombak, Selangor
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times