#water restructuring

New Post has been published on http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2015/04/03/azmin-should-not-politicise-issues-that-involve-wellbeing-of-rakyat/

'Azmin should not politicise issues that involve wellbeing of rakyat'

SHAH ALAM, April 3, 2015:

Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblyman Budiman Zohdi is of the view Selangor Menteri Besar (MB) Mohamed Azmin Ali has overturned some of the decisions that were previously made by former MB Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

He said the matter was evident in the way Azmin managed two Selangor state projects, namely the Kinrara–Damansara Expressway (Kidex) and Selangor’s water structure deal.

“The Kidex project is not about politics, it’s a traffic dispersal project. I notice there is a tendency (by Azmin) to overturn what was done by the former Menteri Besar, like the water issue,” Budiman said in a press conference at the lobby of the Selangor Legislative Assembly today.

He was also of the view that Azmin should not politicise issues that involved the wellbeing of the people, allowing that to harm the state.

“Just because of internal political issues, don’t make people the victims and that element exists. I think Kidex is not political, the state government should look at it in its entirety.

“This can create disorder among the rakyat themselves,” said Budiman.

Azmin was also reminded to obey the pledge he made when he was sworn in as MB before the Sultan of Selangor last year.

“If we see the Sultan’s royal decree, it does contain the spirit for the state and central government to work together for the sake of the rakyat,” he said.

In his role as MB, Azmin had decided to cancel the two mega projects after having found there were weaknesses in terms of implementation and management.

This led to Abdul Khalid criticising Azmin who was seen as having failed in resolving the rakyat’s problems.

New Post has been published on http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2014/07/16/mb-heads-agreement-water-restructuring-exercise-concluded-2-weeks/

MB: Heads of agreement for water restructuring exercise to be concluded in 2 weeks

SHAH ALAM, July 16:

The heads of agreement of Selangor’s water restructuring exercise is expected to be concluded within two weeks, Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said.

A head of agreement is a non-binding document outlining the main issues relevant to a tentative partnership agreement.

The heads of agreement entails the acquisition of shares owned by Puncak Niaga in Syabas and acquisition of Puncak Niaga shares by the state government’s wholly-owned subsidiary Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd (KDEB).

It also includes related transactions in regard to licensing and acceptance by Pengurusan Aset Air Berhad (PAAB) with regards to the loan and bonds transfer in exchange for long term lease to KDEB, which is being tasked to take over the water assets.

“The heads of agreement has been circulated to all parties in order to reach a consensus on the timing,” Abdul Khalid told reporters after chairing the weekly exco meeting here this afternoon.

He also revealed that Tan Sri Rozali Ismail, the executive chairman and major shareholder of Puncak Niaga and Syabas, had agreed on the share price offered.

On Syarikat Pengeluar Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Splash), which had been holding out from the water restructuring exercise, Abdul Khalid said he would have discussions with the minister in regards to position taken by the state and federal government.

“The state maintains that we would like to have the same offer as what we have given to the other concessionaires,” he said.

The water restructuring deal came about under the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Selangor and Putrajaya on Feb 26.

Under the MoU, the state government will issue a development order for the construction of Langat 2 and its distribution system (LRAL2) (Package 2A) effective Feb 26, 2014 and ensure that all approvals and authorisations relating to the LRAL2 project are approved within 30 days.

New Post has been published on http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2014/05/22/selangor-submits-water-restructuring-proposal-federal-government/

Selangor submits water restructuring proposal to federal government

SHAH ALAM, May 22:

The state government yesterday presented a proposal to the federal government on the restructuring of the water industry.

This is in order to conclude the matter soon after three state water concessionaires have agreed to be taken over by the state government.

Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said the aim was to carry out the restructuring within three to six months.

“The proposal had been submitted to the Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister  Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Maximus Ongkili through a letter dated 21 May, 2014.

“The state is confident that the target timeline can be achieved based on intensive discussions between Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Berhad (KDEB), Puncak Niaga Holdings Berhad (PNSB), a concessionaire, Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas), Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara (Span) and Pengurusan Aset Air Berhad (PAAB),” he said in a statement today.

Abdul Khalid said the objectives set under the timeline include: KDEB to present an offer letter to each share holder of the three concessionaires to finalise share prices; to set up a Langat 2 joint committee and for the federal government, state government, PAAB and KDEB to start discussions about the master agreement which will include the Water Services Industry Act, 2006 migration principles, asset transfer, water supply system development, loans settlement scheme from federal government to the state government and service licence approval to asset owners and new water operators.

He also said the relevant parties had to work with KDEB and PAAB which would carry out the due diligence process on the three concessionaires.

He said PAAB would evaluate the worth of the water asset that would be taken over, KDEB would have to evaluate the PNSB equity and asset transfer values.

“What needs to be done then is to sign the sale of shares between KDEB and share owners of PNSB, Syabas and Konsortium Abass Sdn Bhd.”

The final stage of the objective would involve a detailed look at the main agreement along with the ministry’s agreement by the Selangor government, PAAB and KDEB with the Attorney-General’s office, Finance Ministry, Federal Economic Planning Unit and the Public Private Partnership Unit.

New Post has been published on http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2014/02/26/finally-selangor-inks-water-deal-with-putrajaya/

Finally, Selangor inks water deal with Putrajaya

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26

Putrajaya and the Selangor state government inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the restructuring of a water utility in the state  — a matter which has dragged on for 5 years.

Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and Energy, Water and Green Technology Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili signed the agreement.

With the signing of the MoU, a development order effective today will be issued by the state government to construct the Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant (Langat 2) and its distribution system (LRAL2) (Package 2A).

The state government will also ensure that all approvals and authorisations relating to the LRAL2 project are obtained within 30 days.

The federal government will inject additional funds to enable the state government to take over water concession companies and manage water supply in the state through a state-owned company.