KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 — Selangor Mentri Besar Azmin Ali today said he will sue over news reports that wrongly categorised him as saying that water tariffs in the state will be increased.
The PKR deputy president insisted that his remarks in the state assembly yesterday were meant to convey that the government will review the matter once it completes its takeover of the water industry from existing concessionaires.
“Some media outlets are already saying that I have already decided to raise water tariffs; this is slander and I will not hesitate to take legal action,” he was quoted as saying by theSun on its website today.
The mentri besar added that a review of the Hansard of the state assembly will show that he did not issue statements to support the contents of the disputed reports.
State news agency Bernama yesterday reported Azmin as saying that water tariff rates will be increased after the Selangor government completes its acquisition of all four water concessionaires in the state, with the last one ― Syarikat Pengeluar Air Sungai Selangor Sdn Bhd (Splash) ― to be acquired by September next year.
Azmin’s predecessor, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, today criticised the Selangor mentri besar over the reported move, pointing out that the former had said that providing “reasonable rates” to consumers was a key motivator for the takeover of the utility.
