KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 3 — Restaurant operators in the Klang Valley are getting ready to face the prolonged dry spell following the El Nino that is expected to hit the country soon.
A Bernama survey at several locations in and around the federal capital revealed that most restaurant owners had equipped their restaurants with several water storage tanks to avoid water interruption when the water rationing plan is activated.
Chinese Muslim Food Paradise managing director Mohd Ma Xu said he made the decision to add several storage tanks in his restaurant after being exasperated with water shortage when the rationing plan was announced by the Selangor state government early this year.
“This is in preparation of the El Nino this time around but I expect the restaurant operation will be running as usual despite the possibility of a water interruption.
“Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) will also give prior notice before water rationing is imposed in this area,” he told Bernama here today.
Meanwhile Istana Bambu Restaurant sales and marketing manager Zeeta Mohamad Yunus said the water woes were a blessing in disguise for restaurant operators as many customers were expected to dine out more.
“Whenever there is a water crisis, many people are lazy to cook at home in order to save water. So they prefer to eat at the shops.
“For us restaurant operators, the water supply crisis is not a major problem as early preparation has been made to provide more water tanks according to the water rationing schedule issued by Syabas,” she said.
For Kuang BBQ Land and Steamboat Buffet owner, Azri Zainal Abidin his restaurant incurred a loss of RM2,000 daily during the water crisis early this year.
“During the last water ration, the water supply in my restaurant can only last for two days as there was not enough water storage places forcing me to close my operation,” he said.
Azri, who learnt from the experience, said he only used three water barrels that could store about 1,200 litres of water that lasted for two days.
He hoped that Syabas would be more systematic in the distribution of water supply according to the fixed schedule if there was going to another water rationing.
On the ‘Heads Of Agreement’ on restructuring the water supply industry between the federal government and Selangor state government, he also hoped that it would proceed regardless of a change of the Selangor Mentri Besar.
“It does not matter who becomes the next mentri besar so long as they can look after the people’s welfare and not just their respective political agenda.
“We can still operate without electricity supply but the lack of water will be a big inconvenience.” he added.
Last Friday the federal government and Selangor government signed a memorandum of understanding regarding restructuring of the Selangor water supply.
The agreement was an extension of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by both sides on Feb 26 to build the Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant (LRAL2) and its distribution system.
At the same time, Selangor mentri besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said the Selangor would not impose water rationing in future despite a gradual fall in the water level at the state’s dams. — Bernama
