Groups seek updates on probe into Selangor, Splash deal

SHAH ALAM: Three non-governmental organisations are urging the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to reveal the progress of its probe into the Selangor government’s takeover of Syarikat Pengeluar Air Selangor (Splash).

Pertubuhan Suara Rakyat Marhaen (Suara), Badan Amal Tarbiah Sejagat (Batas) and Pertubuhan Gerakan Penegak Suara Selangor (Gapenas) also called for Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali to reveal whether the deal had been sealed and the amount agreed upon by the state government and the Splash management.

Suara adviser Zamil Ibrahim, who acted as the NGOs’ spokesman, said MACC must reveal the progress into their investigations as it had been 43 days since they (NGOs) lodged a report with the commission over the matter.

He said should the commission fail to provide answers in two weeks, they would lodge a report with the Public Complaints Bureau (PCB) against MACC.

“We lodged a report with Selangor MACC on Nov 15, and since then, there have been no updates whatsoever.

“MACC should tell us whether the investigation is ongoing, completed or if they did not even investigate our report against Azmin and Splash following the discrepancies between the amount during Azmin’s administration and his predecessor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

“The people deserve to know, as the takeover involves a great deal of taxpayers’ money, up to billions of ringgit, while, at the same time, they are suffering due to water supply problems,” he said after handing over a memorandum at the Selangor MACC office in Section 14 here yesterday.

Present were Gapenas Selangor chairman Nasiruddin Mahamed and Batas Malaysia supreme council member Hafarizam Haron.

Zamil said as far as the NGOs knew, MACC had not called Khalid, who was said to have been willing to give his statements and facilitate investigations.

“At the same time, Azmin has been speaking like he was acting on behalf of Splash, while Splash chairman Tan Sri Wan Azmi Wan Hamzah has kept mum over the takeover discussions. Whether they have been called by MACC, we do not know.

“When we met with the Selangor MACC representative today (yesterday) to hand over our memorandum, he told us that the investigations had been escalated to its headquarters in Putrajaya.

“We urge MACC deputy chief commissioner Datuk Azam Baki to answer in 14 days, after which, if they have yet to respond, we will go to Putrajaya to demand for answers and lodge a complaint with PCB.”

Azmin had, during the state assembly sitting in November, said Khalid offered RM2.975 billion to take over Splash’s equity.

However, in his response to Azmin, Khalid said the state government under his administration made the offer of RM2.975 billion for the whole takeover deal, and not for Splash’s equity alone.

Khalid claimed that this was much lower compared with the RM2.7 billion offer made by Azmin’s administration for Splash’s equity.