I ‘apologise’ for misstating Splash takeover price, says Najib
PETALING JAYA: Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has “apologised” for misstating the price for the takeover of Syarikat Pengeluar Air Sungai Selangor Sdn Bhd (Splash) by Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd.
It was announced on Friday that Splash would likely be acquired for RM2.55bil whereas Najib had said in a speech to crowds at the Sungai Kandis byelection two days before that it would be sold for RM2.7bil.
Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali had denied at the Parliament lobby that Splash was being sold for RM2.7bil and claimed that negotiations were still ongoing.
“Less than 24 hours after Azmin’s denial, the Mentri Besar officially announced the sale at RM2.55bil.
“I would like to apologise to Azmin because I was wrong. But the RM2.55bil price is not too far from the RM2.7bil I mentioned.
“It’s still 10 times higher than the RM250mil previously offered by (former Selangor Mentri Besar) Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim .
“But this price (of RM2.55bil) is still not accurate because besides paying RM2.55bil in cash, Selangor government still has to bear Splash’s debts estimated at RM1.6bil. So the actual price is RM4.1bil,” he said in a statement on Facebook.
Najib also alleged that the deal would benefit a “Tan Sri” who had a 30% stake in Splash, and was a crony of a top Pakatan Harapan leader and a cofounder of a political party.
He said the low offer price of RM250mil was among the reasons given by several state leaders for Khalid to be booted out of power.
Najib said besides causing a hike in water tariffs, Selangor would end up with more debts because some RM1.9bil needed for the purchase price of RM2.55bil would be borrowed from the Federal Government.
“The rest will be paid by state government’s funds.
“Bearing Splash’s liabilities and getting more federal debt will add to the burden of the rakyat, who may be forced to fork out more for higher tariffs,” he said, adding that the deal would however benefit Splash’s shareholders.