It was just 10 days ago on 17 June 2014 that the Selangor State Government provided the guarantee that there will be no need for water rationing when the dry season hits in the next few weeks, exacerbated by the El Nino phenomenon.
State executive councillor in charge of youth and sports, infrastructure and public utilities, Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi said that based on water levels at retention ponds and dams, the state has enough water to last for at least four to five months.
He added, “at this point, we are guaranteeing that [water rationing] will not take place.”
Earlier on 11 June, Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim provided the same assurance that the state will not repeat its water rationing exercise despite a possible dry spell in the next few months due to the El Nino phenomenon.
“There is currently no plan for another water rationing exercise. The state government will work to ensure that this does not happen,” he said.
Among the measures being implemented are twenty pumps placed in nine disused tin mining ponds, which will supply 800 million litres of raw water daily to Sungai Tinggi and Sungai Selangor. Tan Sri Khalid also said that the Selangor water management board (LUAS) had also conducted drill tests to make sure all the pumps were functioning properly.
However, over the past week alone – before El Nino even sets in – various parts of Selangor have begun seeing water disruptions due to a lack of supply. Among the areas particularly hard hit are Balakong and Bangi. Yesterday, SYABAS issued a warning to residents in Gombak, Petaling and Klang of possible water disruptions due to alleged low-levels of raw water in Sungai Selangor, affecting up to 157,000 users.
This is a shocking and unacceptable development, and Selangorians are right to be both angry and worried about the deteriorating situation possibly culminating in another round of painful water rationing.
Selangor residents have already suffered a two-month long water rationing exercise since end of February had disrupted water supply. At that time, it was arguably excusable because the relevant authorities were taken by surprise by the harshness of the unexpected dry weather.
However everyone, including the state water authority, SYABAS and the state government are fully aware of the seasonal dry weather expected in the next few months which will be made worse by El Nino. There is no longer any valid reason for the lack of preparation or contingency plan to meet the challenges of low water supply.
The fact that the serious water disruptions are occuring over the past week, so soon after the “guarantee” provided by the state government only exposes a lack of seriousness in tackling the issue and sheer incompetence on the part of the relevant authorities.
Such degree of incompetence cannot be tolerated because it has embarrassed the Menteri Besar and the state government, as well as severely damaged Pakatan Rakyat’s credibility.
Heads must therefore roll if the water disruptions were to continue and the state is forced to implement another round of water rationing. There can be no more excuses.
On top of punishing the incompetent, the Selangor government must heed the call of my colleague, Dr Ong Kian Ming, Member of Parliament for Serdang on 20 June, to immediately set up a high-level water task force comprising of the MB, key elected representatives and state officials to find and review solutions to the water woes.
Dr Ong also called upon the state government to put in place contingency plans such as creating dedicated water disbursement teams in areas prone to water disruption and provide it with sufficient resources.
It cannot be more strongly emphasized that these measures must be urgently considered and executed to relieve the burdens of the suffering rakyat while we await the improvements on water management expected after the state successfully takes over the operations of the SYABAS and the water industry.