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No. 4732 PP 2644/12/2009 (023092)

Tuesday
April 7, 2009
TELLING IT AS IT IS www.sun2surf.com

Arsenal
» Tee Keat submits MCA’s name list pg2 » Magnificent Madrid pg31 going places

primed for h pg39

strong finis

Selangor water
war enters
information stage
by Maria J. Dass
‘Renew democracy’
NAJIB CALLS FOR NEW NATIONAL DISCOURSE Dialogue that
demonstrates respect
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: The scheduled water tariff hike

in Selangor has been put on hold but this has
not stopped the parties concerned from waging
a campaign with advertisements, brochures,
booklets and websites to win public support.
The increase was to kick in on April 1. The
cabinet was to have deliberated on it and make
a decision on Wednesday, but it is understood
by Karen Arukesamy
newsdek@thesundaily.com
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk
Seri Najib Abdul Razak yesterday reiterated
the need to renew democracy in the country
to ensure that institutions, parties and public
servants are responsive to the needs of all the
people; and are working for the public inter-
that percolate up from the grassroots and
the internet.
for one another even
“The media best serves the public interest when disagreements are
when it goes beyond the superficial; when
it asks the tough questions of the rumour- deep must take place in
mongers; when it does not lend credence to
false innuendo, and instead reports on facts
all parts of our country.”
» Turn to Page 2

MASRY CHE ANI/THESUN

the matter received scant attention because
of the farewell for outgoing prime minister Tun
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
This week, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd
Najib Razak is expected to announce his new
cabinet line-up, and it is not known if Datuk
Shaziman Abu Mansor will continue to hold the
Energy, Water and Communication portfolio.
It is learnt that Konsortium Abass Sdn Bhd,
which has not informed the National Water
Services Commission (SPAN) if it wants to stay
as a concession company or migrate to the
licensee regime, had been given until May 31 to
decide. The old deadline was April 30.
This has led to speculation that the tariff
increase will be further stalled, igniting concerns
over the increasing penalty fee that has to be
paid to the concession companies.
In 2006, a 10-month delay in implementing
a water tariff increase of 15% cost the govern-
ment RM152 million in compensation. This
time around the scheduled rise supposed to be
implemented on Jan 1 is 37%. The ministry later
brought it down to 31%.
The Selangor government, on the other
hand, has indicated it can reduce the tariff from
the present rates by 10% if it is allowed to run
the industry on its own. It cited breach of the
est and not narrow opportunism or political
interests.
“This will be a core principle of my
government; governing that reflects the
best values, abilities and strengths of our
people, our leaders and our nation,” he
said at the Malaysian Press Institute -Pet-
ronas Journalism Awards night here.
He said a new national discourse
must be established on the principles of
transparency and accountability, service
to all and respect and fairness in the
public dialogue with the interest of every
Malaysians at heart.
Najib said everyone has their own
political philosophy and views and that
debate must continue vigorously.
“Dialogue that demonstrates respect
for one another even when disagreements
are deep must take place in all parts of
our country,” he stressed, including in the
traditional and the rapidly growing new
media.
“For my part, I have taken my message
for One Malaysia directly to the people (via
my 1Malaysia website),” he said, adding
that many have actively participated in
expressing concern and views about the

Bukit Selambau voters’ big day

concession agreement as reasons to end the
agreement so it can take over the running of
the state’s water industry.
The ministry has printed booklets and
launched a website to explain to consumers
its stand on the matter. Selangor, which is em-
broiled in a battle with the federal authorities
since February on the takeover of water compa-
nies, will also embark on a massive campaign to
tell all to the public via brochures, websites and
advertisements, including billboards.
The ministry’s side of the story can be viewed
at http://www.ktak.gov.my and Selangor’s
version at www.airuntukrakyat.com.
country through online dialogue.
“The reason is clear: at a time when
too much of the political discourse has
descended into rumours and name-
calling, people are turning off the
traditional media and looking to interact
directly with each other and with their
leaders. They seek dialogue as a Nation,
not just monologues from a handful of
political figures,” he said.
Acknowledging the strength of the
media, Najib said the power of the media
is not only in reporting but also in lend-
ing credibility to stories and rumours
SUNGAI PETANI: The ballot paper for the
Bukit Selambau by-election measures 25.4cm
by 50.8cm. This is to accommodate the names
and symbols of the 15 candidates and space
for voters to mark their choice.
Election Commission (EC) deputy chairman
Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said the size of
the fonts and symbols used were the same as
those other ballot papers so as not to confuse
voters. Due to its size, the ballot has to folded
four times in order to fit into the ballot box.
Wan Ahmad predicted that with good
weather, the voter turnout will be more than
80%. The result is expected around 10pm.
Voters can check where to vote via SMS by
typing “SPKMyKad number” and sending it to
15888, or calling the state EC office at 04-700
1313 or 04-700 1303.
He told a press conference yesterday that
the EC had given permits to 33 Mafrel (Malay-
sian for Free Elections) officers to observe the
voting process.