KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 — Putrajaya’s demand for Selangor land did not contravene the water agreement as the matter was part of the deal signed back in September, Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said today.

The Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister said the land was only to be leased to the federal government for 45 years, and that it would be returned to the state once the lease had expired.

“There are no additional new terms. They did not read the agreement properly. It states that the assets include the land above and below the pipes… my lawyers can show you,” Ongkili told reporters at a news conference at the Parliament lobby here.

“The lease is only for 45 years… after that it goes back to the state. So there is no question of Selangor losing its sovereignty,” the minister added.

Selangor mentri besar Azmin Ali said earlier today that Putrajaya violated the original terms of the water agreement  by demanding for state land.

He accused the federal government of going against the spirit of the master agreement signed on September 12 last year by asking “for land for free” from the state government.

Azmin told Parliament that the federal government had asked Selangor to hand over all land where 26,000km of pipes belonging to state water concessionaires were built across the state.