- The embattled Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Selangor government is preparing to go on the offensive after a week where it has been backed into a corner under relentless attacks from Barisan Nasional (BN).
While it is waiting on an audience with the Sultan over the circulation of executive councillor Elizabeth Wong’s naked pictures, it has prepared its own ammunition in the ongoing tussle with the federal government over water assets and is now considering the legal defence against accusations that Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim abused powers as mentri besar.
Following a retreat for its executive council and elected representatives this weekend, senior executive councillor Teresa Kok told reporters today that the state government now considered the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MCAC) allegation that Khalid had misused state funds to purchase sacrificial cattle and maintain his personal vehicle as a legal issue.
“His lawyers will be making the statements from now on,” she said when asked what would be done to refute the allegations once and for all.
She said that the government and PR will continue stand firmly behind Khalid and insists that there is no wrongdoing involved
Selangor is also “contemplating steps to put up a case” against what seems a foregone conclusion that the four private water concessionaires in the state would be negotiating the transfer of their water service assets directly with the federal government.
According to Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, who is a member of the Selangor water review panel that is handling the statutory transfer of all water assets in the state to the federal government, all four companies had rejected its offer with only Splash and Abass willing to continue negotiations.
It is understood that Puncak Niaga and Syabas, which Puncak Niaga has a 70 per cent stake in, are already prepared to discuss an offer with the federal government.
The state had made an offer totalling RM5.7 billion to take over the four companies last week but two days before the Feb 20 deadline, the National Water Services Commission had announced that the federal government would be moving in to conclude the transfer.
It is understood the concessionaires want more money but the Selangor government wants to pay less so that it can ensure lower water tariffs for consumers.
Calling the premature announcement by the federal government “a sabotage,” the panel is now “preparing our bullets” to prove that its offer was a fair one and in compliance with prevailing concession agreements, Pua added.
Earlier in the morning, Selangor PR MPs and assemblymen were briefed on details of the water deal and will now go to the ground to explain the matter to their constituents.
With another public briefing scheduled for Feb 24, Selangor PR now appears to be trying to ratchet up public pressure on the federal government to allow it to continue negotiations.
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