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The unregulated pig breeding farms in the Sungai Klang and Sungai Langat areas are the cause of pollution that had eventually disrupted the water supply and created hardship to the residents in Selangor. 

The findings disclosed through the Auditor General’s report proves and echoed by the UMNO Malaysia Youth Exco, Shahril Hamdan denying it was an act of sabotage as claimed by the Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali. 

Azmin had claimed earlier, they have evidence of sabotage by Barisan Nasional and UMNO on the matter of water pollution in Semenyih, refuting the state government is poorly administered. 

The report further had found that the state government failed to control illegal pig farms which may further causing the water contaminants into the rivers of Selangor, causing water disruption in the Klang Valley. 

The Auditor General's Report Series 2, states there are approximately 132 pig farms found in the basin of Sungai Klang and Sungai Langat compared to only 27 licenses were issued. 

"The findings by the Auditor General in the Auditor General's report also prove the water supply interruption in recent years is due to management body of the state government; Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS) weaknesses," Shahril told Astro Awani. 

“The audit analysis found the water quality of Sungai Klang and Sungai Langat was moderately polluted (Class III) thus causing contaminants from the uncontrolled activities of the domestic and industrial pollution hence led to water treatment plants ordered to stop work.", he added. 

“The Mentri Besar and state executive councillor must refrain from accusing others of sabotaging the water supply in Selangor. The state government has not only failed to manage resources in Selangor raw water supply well, but the delay to finalize the purchase of water concessionaires in Selangor hence hurting the taxpayers," he said. 

Failure of LUAS to monitor and record the exact number of the owners of the farm or the industry to be licensed only proves the state government’s management weakness and leads to increased costs and time to treat raw water for consumers.

Selangor Water Shortage: Consumers Taken Hostage

While the Selangor Government has agreed to allocate RM400 million to replace 422 km of old water pipes in stages since July until 2019 to solve water woes in the Klang Valley, hopefully in the meantime the consumers has to bear the difficulties of carrying out their daily lives?

Water is not merely a necessity. It is the source of life. All efforts should be directed for the Rakyat in Selangor, and holding them at ransom or political injustice. So why is Selangor facing water shortage and who is to be blamed?  

The Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant and Water Reticulation System concession in 2009 by the Federal Government would have been completed, however it was delayed due to polemics by the state government. It was to address the increasing demands for water by the population and the industries, especially during drought seasons. 

Under the concession agreement, the initial water tariff was tagged at very low rates, allowing for gradual increases in the interest of the public. These increases would provide additional revenue to the water companies for the maintenance of increased water supply and reduce leakages or non-revenue water (NRW). 

The Pakatan Rakyat (PR) promised free water or no increase in water tariff to win majority votes in Selangor. To achieve this, they intended to buy out the water companies and halted any increase in water tariff despite provisioned in the concession agreements, tantamount to breach of contract. 

The Selangor Government must be held responsible and accountable for the water shortage, yet as their usual traits, fast to deflect this problem and blames the Federal Government. 

The rakyat of Selangor will be dogged with water woes while the Selangor government unabashed. To make matters worse, in the interest of the public and the Malaysian economy, the Federal Government has to bear the financial costs and saves the day, while the state government reaps the credit.