SUBANG JAYA, 23 SEPT: Free subsidy of 20 cubic meters worth of water will be continued for the next 10 years. Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said the grant will be continued after the restructuring of Selangor's water industry is completed successfully.
"The restructuring of the water industry currently sees visible light at the end. However, it is still not over and we will continue with this subsidy programme for the next 10 years.
"We hope to solve it because we do not want the most important asset to be managed by people without expertise," he said in his opening statement at the Budget 2014 Dialogue Ceremony at the Grand Dorsett Hotel, Subang Jaya.
Previously, Abdul Khalid said the restructuring will be completed by December 31st, in line with the Water Services Industry Act (WASIA), 2006.
The matter was decided by the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water in a letter dated 9th September.
Abdul Khalid also said the restructuring will enable the State Government to settle a debt worth RM1 billion with the Central Government.
"After the debt is settled, the State Government's debt will remain no more than RM200 million.
"Because the state's reserve is worth RM3 billion at this moment, the state does not have to beg anymore. We can develop the state with this amount," he said.
