HULU LANGAT, Aug 20 — Selangor’s ability to channel free, clean water to low-income groups and maintain reasonable rates for the rest of its residents proves its commitment to ensure the people’s welfare and economic competitiveness, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said Selangor’s approach should be built on to ensure an approach to water management that is more sustainable, balanced and not burdensome to the people.
“It is not just a question of availing water and energy, but controlling them with reasonable prices and by not burdening the people.
“Selangor is on the record as the first state to give poor people free water and at appropriate rates. Congratulations! This is our focus, this we can develop,” he said at the launch of the Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant (WTP) here today.
Anwar said the nation’s sustainable, modern ability to provide water and energy is also a factor to draw foreign investors to Malaysia.
“We cannot defend our credibility as a peaceful, efficient nation if basic matters like water and energy cannot be resolved.
“Among the reasons Malaysia draws data centre, new technology, and semiconductor (investments) is its water and energy facilities. If (entities) want to invest, their requirements are water and energy,” he said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said his ministry, through the Water Sector Transformation Roadmap 2040, is overcoming challenges including non-revenue water, dilapidated infrastructure, and low reserve margins in several states.
“Cooperation with state governments must continue in the planning and development of new water source infrastructure to ensure the needs of domestic users and critical industries can be fulfilled, as was implemented with Selangor in the previous and future Malaysia Plans,” he said.
Earlier, Anwar launched the Langat 2 WTP, which was built at a cost of RM4.2 billion and has a capacity of 1.13 billion litres per day.
The WTP channels raw water from Kelau Dam through the Sungai Semantan intake in Pahang, which is channelled through a 44.6km tunnel across the Titiwangsa Range.
Anwar said the Langat 2 WTP channels clean, treated water to 350,000 accounts (around 1.87 million consumers) in the Klang Valley.
