SELANGOR: Petaling Jaya Utara MP and DAP Selangor chairman Tony Pua took a swipe at Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim and the Selangor state government for failing the people and pushing the water disruption blame to Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas).
“It is important for the Menteri Besar and state officials to visit the families queueing up with pails to draw water from supply tanks,” Pua said in a statement today.
“These residents will be extremely keen to hear ‘what the state has done’ and ‘why Syabas is to blame’, especially families suffering from constant water disruptions in parts of Selangor such as Balakong and Bangi.”
Pua said this in reference to Khalid and the state government’s “guarantee” that there will be no major water disruption and their subsequent statement that the promise could not be fulfilled because the state government has no control over Syabas, and hence should not be blamed.
“Some residents might wonder as to why the state government was so quick to offer ‘guaranteed’ water supply when the state is fully aware that Syabas has refused to cooperate or even attend state-organised meetings,” said Pua.
“If the state government is unable to fulfil the ‘guarantee’, what can they do to provide immediate assistance and relief to those suffering from serious water disruptions?”
“Should we not have some empathy and put in place a ‘Plan B’ for these people?”
“Surely, a responsible and caring Pakatan Rakyat state government should do much more than just blame Syabas – even if they are indeed the rightful party to be blamed.”
Pua said that this was the reason why he fully supported Serdang MP Dr Ong Kian Ming, who had on June 20, proposed the immediate setting up of a high-level water task force comprising the Menteri Besar, key elected representatives and state officials to recommend and review solutions, as well as stay abreast of current water woes.
“We cannot just sit back and allow Syabas’ services to make a mockery of the Pakatan government.
“The rakyat does not want to see quibbling Pakatan leaders. They want to see a proactive Pakatan government, who will go out of its way to share the rakyat’s burden and ease the pain of their plight.”
