Water Crisis: Khalid Ibrahim Is Taking Too Much Risk

Water is the source of life. Without water, the effects would simply be catastrophic.

But in Selangor, the state government is looking at this issue as something small and they are much more comfortable to play politics rather than looking for the long term solution for the betterment of 7 million consumers including in Kuala Lumpur & Putrajaya.

The report from Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia (AWER) stated that Selangor would suffer water crisis by 20014, that matter should not be ignored.

The report was even backed by National Water Services Commission (SPAN) whych confirmed that clean water supply is critical with only 6 percent.

Looking at the Selangor Government's attitude where they seemed to be ignoring the project of Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant, clearly shows its failure in managing the future of the state.

When the reason why the new plant (Langat 2) is developed, along with water tunnel through Pahang-Selangor Raw Water Transfer Project (PPAMPS) to ensure that the supply of clean water would be constant to avoid the 1998 water crisis from repeating itself.

But when Selangor Government harassed the development of the project, up until now, a few areas in Klang valley including Selangor had to suffer water rationing considering that the water reserve in water treatment plants are decreasing.

Selangor Chief Minister, Khalid Ibrahim shared his though by saying that clean water supply could last until 2019. The statement is simply illogical and unjustified. The only reason why such statement was made is because he do not want the public to worry about anything. So, he simply sweep everything under the rug.

The fact is, from 33 water treatment plants around Selangor which provides water for Selangor, Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur, only a few of them are still working under the maximum capacity.

One of them include the water treatment plant in Sungai Rasa which operates at the capacity of 138.71 MLD when the maximum capacity is 250 MLD (Million Liter Daily)

However, due to the fact that a few of these plants which are barely working do not have any pipe that connects to other places, the rest of the plants had to operate within maximum capacity, for instance, Sungai Langat plant which operates with 447.42 MLD compared to maximum of 386 MLD.

Sungai Semenyih in the other hand supplies 665.92 MLD worth of clean water when the capability is only 546 MLD.

Plants which operates over the maximum capacity would soon suffer issues which could happen simultaneously, the domino effect would not only cause trouble to rakyat, it would also give a heavy impact to factory operations which generates the country's economy.

Overall, Klang Valley consumers use around 4,219 MLD while the amount of clean water supply that could be provided by all 33 water treatment plants is only 4,326 MLD.

Each day, demand for water would increase and if no new plants are developed, this might cause losses for consumers and the chain reaction would cause a heavier crisis.

Isn't it clear here that Selangor Government's ignorance for the Langat 2 project development would not just increase the development cost, but it would also give negative impact to rakyat?

Is this what we want?