Charles Santiago

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• Do proper study before deciding on Kelau Dam project
• Water Controversy in Selangor between Federal and State Government
• Water Controversy in Selangor between Federal and State Government
• Water Controversy in selangor Between Federal and State Government
• Fed’s water figures ‘serve only interested parties’
• Water shortage threats ‘mere scare tactics’
• DAP: Sourcing water from Pahang not a long-term solution
• Klang MP: New study needed to address water woes

Do proper study before deciding on Kelau Dam project Posted: 24 Jul 2010 05:59 PM PDT Source: The Star KLANG: Coalition Against the Privatisation of Water coordinator Charles Santiago has urged the Federal government to come up with a research paper on the impact of climate change to substantiate claims that Selangor faces water rationing. "Without proper studies, the Federal government cannot push through the plan to source water from the Kelau Dam in Raub, Pahang as it is not a viable answer to ensure enough water," he said. Santiago who is also Klang MP added that Energy, Green Technology and Water Deputy Minister Noriah Kasnon had said the Kelau Dam was needed to secure Selangor's water supply until 2025. "Now the rain falls around the catchment areas surrounding the Kelau Dam but what happens if due to climate change the rain moves to Kelantan or Terengganu?" Santiago asked. The Kelau Dam has been stalled as the Federal government is waiting for the Selangor government's approval to acquire land for the piping work, he said.

Water Controversy in Selangor between Federal and State Government Posted: 24 Jul 2010 02:54 AM PDT

Water Controversy in Selangor between Federal and State Government Posted: 24 Jul 2010 02:51 AM PDT

Water Controversy in selangor Between Federal and State Government Posted: 24 Jul 2010 02:48 AM PDT

Fed’s water figures ‘serve only interested parties’ Posted: 24 Jul 2010 01:04 AM PDT The federal government’s claims that water supply in Selangor will be running dry by 2014 are based on projections set by vested interests. Klang DAP parliamentarian Charles Santiago (left) explained that the figures cited by both the federal and state governments in its recent spat over the construction of the Kelau Dam project to pipe water from Pahang to Selangor rely on two different methodologies. The issue of the depleting supply of water in Selangor which also caters to the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya is a source of contention between the federal and state government. Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Peter Chin Fah Kui said that based on the National Water Resources Study Report (NWSR) 2000-2050 published by the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) it is projected that Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya would have to deal with a water crisis by the end of 2014. This is because water demand in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya is projected to increase to 4,907 million litres per day (mld) against the capacity at 4,431 mld, he said, adding that this would create a shortage of 476 mld, Chin said. In a press conference in Klang today, Santiago pointed out that the NWSR figures were based on “highly inflated estimates” and the report was sponsored by three main players in the water industry – Ranhill Bersekutu Sdn Bhd, SMHB Sdn Bhd and Jurutera Perunding Zaaba Sdn Bhd. These companies are also believed to be “directly and indirectly” linked to the raw water transmission project from Pahang to Selangor. According to him, the NWSR is also “radically different” from the Design Guidelines for Water Supply Systems published by the Malaysian Water Association (MWA) in 1994. The MWA guidelines was adapted from the Public Works Department (JKR) Design Criteria and Standards for Water Supply Systems published in 1989 as a recommended method for estimating water demands in the country. Khalid’s argument based on MWA guideline These guidelines were also the basis to Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim’s counter-argument that the state has enough water until 2019. “We wanted to resolve all water issues with the federal government as soon as possible but the federal government feels that the (Selangor) water restructuring and the supply from Pahang are two different things,” Khalid (right) had said. However, the NWRS has sidelined the recommended method and instead used a method that excessively inflates the per capita water consumption figures, said Santiago. “For example, the NWRS is suggesting that water demand in 1995 was about 400 to 657 litres per capita per day; and in 2010 this will increase up to 500 to 1,224 litres per capita per day and in 2050 it will reach an estimate of 729 to 1,077 litres per capita per day,” he said. This estimates were “far higher than and double the maximum estimates” of the Design Guidelines for Water Supply Systems 1994, he added. The figures cited by NWRS are based on these variables: • Estimate the projected national GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth for 2000 to 2050 • Calculate the projected per capita GDP (whole country) • Estimate the projected total GDP of each state in peninsular Malaysia • Estimate the "Manufacturing Value-Added (MVA)" component in the estimated total state GDP • Calculate the estimated total gross value of manufacturing output for each state from the MVA • Estimate the projected total cost of industrial water, for each state from the estimated total gross value of manufacturing output “The variables were designed in such a way that it is based on an upward trend, which is in contrast to the GDP growth in recent years which were lower than estimated ,” said Santiago. “In this case it should be consumption should be lower, but instead it’s higher,” he said. Climate change, the ultimate decider However, it is more crucial at this juncture for both governments to look at water conservation rather than predicting and arguing about the state’s water supply drying up, stressed Santiago. “Climate change will ultimately decide whether we will have water shortage… weather patterns all over the world are changing, in China rainfall has dropped from 50 percent to 40 percent,” he said. In Malaysia, 97 percent of drinking water comes from rivers and streams but most of these are polluted, said Santiago. “Excessive logging needs to stop, we have to gazette forest reserves and catchment areas and we have to start rain water harvesting which can save up to 40 to 80 percent from water bills.

Water shortage threats ‘mere scare tactics’ Posted: 24 Jul 2010 01:01 AM PDT The confusion sparked by contradictory claims that Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya would suffer insufficient water supply by the end of 2014 is to favour the contractors involved in the raw water transmission project from Pahang to Selangor. Coalition Against Water Privatisation (CAWP) coordinator Charles Santiago charged today that politically-linked contractors were behind the federal government’s rush to complete the interstate water transmission project, otherwise known as the Kelau Dam project. “The contractors cannot do their jobs because the project is funded partly by the Japanese Overseas Development Aid and the Japanese government will not release the funding unless they see progress in the work,” said Santiago (left), who is also the Klang DAP parliamentarian. To shed light on the recent spat between Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Peter Chin Fah Kui and Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim, Santiago said: “A bilateral loan was given under the New Miyazawa Initiative to various countries, including Malaysia, and through the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, RM3.8 billion was granted”. Another reason for the project not kicking off as planned is because the state government has refused to transfer land to the federal government, he added. Going to town with ‘scare tactics’ The federal government was using “scare tactics” to incite fear in the people to enable an Umno-linked beneficiary to get the funds, he claimed. Chin had said that the National Water Resources Study Report (NWSR) 2000-2050 published by the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) projected that Selangor and the two federal territories would be facing water shortage by the end of 2014. Therefore, Chin (right) had insisted, the water transmission project should be launched straightaway to meet growing demand. Part of the project involves a 45km long tunnel to channel raw water from Kelau, Telemong and Bentong in Pahang to Selangor. The tunnel job was awarded last year to a Japanese-led consortium comprising Shimizu Corp (project leader) and Nishimatsu Construction Co and local companies UEM Builder and IJM Corp. The matter triggered contention as UEM is an Umno-linked company while Nishimatsu is facing corruption allegations in Japan and had been accused of negligence in Singapore over the Nicoll Highway collapse in 2005. Citing several news reports, Santiago said threats of critical water shortage had been used ever since 1997. “This was also what the chairperson of Puncak Niaga said in 1997, that water shortage will be critical in 1998, but that year, it wasn’t as critical as he had painted it to be”. Oxford grad MPs clash over sand and water Fed’s water figures ‘serve only interested parties’

DAP: Sourcing water from Pahang not a long-term solution Posted: 24 Jul 2010 12:55 AM PDT Source: The Malaysianinsider By Neville Spykerman July 23, 2010 KLANG, July 23 — The DAP's Charles Santiago has accused the federal government of manufacturing claims that Selangor faced water rationing, pointing out that a plan to tap supply from Pahang was not a viable solution to growing demand. He claimed the RM9 billion Pahang-Selangor Raw Water Transfer Project would fail because it would only ensure enough supply for 15 years. He argued that the federal government had already unwittingly admitted the inter-state water project was not a viable solution. He pointed out that Energy, Green Technology and Water Deputy Minister Noriah Kasnon, in a report in The Star on July 21, had said the project was "needed to secure Selangor's (water) supply until 2025". "That's RM9 billion for just 15 years. What happens next?" he asked. He also express doubts if the planned Kelau dam in Pahang, which is supposed to be the source of water, will be able to supply Selangor with 1,150 million litres of water a day. He argues that even if the dam is built, there is no guarantee that there will be rain to fill it. "No study on the impact on climate change was carried out when the dam was first proposed in 1998, despite our demands," said Santiago (picture), who is also the co-ordinator of the Coalition Against the Privatisation of Water. He claimed the federal government was pressing ahead due to pressure from contractors who are demanding to be paid. He said the Japan Bank for International Cooperation was providing a loan of RM3.8 billion for the project. "But payments have stalled because there is no progress in the project." Although a federal project, the Selangor government's approval is needed for the acquisition of state land. However, Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim's administration is in no hurry. Khalid has already indicated that talks for the project must be discussed collectively with ongoing negotiations on the restructuring of the water services industry in Selangor. The federal government, however, wants both issues to be negotiated separately. Santiago said the "manufactured claims" in the press about taps running dry in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya by 2014 were to force the state to move. The state, however, maintains that Selangor has enough water to last till 2019. Santiago pointed out that both the federal and state governments were using different methodologies to arrive at their respective claims. However, he urged both sides to stop "politicising water" but to work together to find a long-term solution. He said the federal government should start by making public an audit report on Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd, which is classified under the Officials Secrets Act. It is estimated that 35 per cent of all treated water is lost due to leakages or is non-revenue water (NRW). Santiago said any potential water crisis could be averted just by reducing NRW. "At least 50 per cent of the water which they propose to supply from the Kelau dam can be reduced by tackling NRW."

Klang MP: New study needed to address water woes Posted: 24 Jul 2010 12:52 AM PDT Source: Free Malaysia today Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:07 // <![CDATA[ /* By G Vinod KLANG: The federal government needs to conduct a fresh study on water supply and demand in the country as reports produced by the Malaysia Water Association and the National Water Resources Study (NWRS) had missed one crucial variable – climate change. While the two reports did not take into account the issue of climate change, which had caused floods and droughts at the most unlikely locations around the globe, local politicians seem oblivious to this fact. Revealing this at a press conference today, Klang MP Charles Santiago said both the reports, widely used by the federal and Selangor governments for future planning, were defective as the reports failed to address this matter. "Both reports missed one important factor in its equation – climate change. That is why I would like to urge the government to conduct a national level study on water supply and demand." "The El Nino phenomenon we encountered in 1998 is one good example. Take the RM9 billion Kelau dam project in Pahang. Climate change was not taken into consideration when the government mooted the project. "There is plenty of downpour there now but due to climate change, the wind can just blow and shift the rain clouds to other areas. That will make the dam useless." He added many nations of the world were now reeling from the might of global climate change. Where nations used to enjoy plenty of rainfall, they are now facing problems due to shortage of rain. "Some countries are experiencing shortage of downpour by almost 60%," said Santiago. He said 97% of Malaysia’s water resources come from rivers and streams and the government should work on diversifying water resources. "Can you imagine what will happen if it doesn’t rain much anymore and our rivers get polluted? That will cause a major water crisis," said Santiago. Different methodologies Santiago was commenting on the recent spat between Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim and Energy, Green Technology and Water Deputy Minister Noriah Kasnon on the Klang Valley water issues. On July 21, Noriah said that Selangor and Kuala Lumpur will face a water crisis in 2012 if the Pahang-Selangor water transfer infrastructure and other mitigation projects are not implemented soon. However, Khalid dismissed the warning, saying that Selangor will have sufficient water supply till 2019 without the project. "Both reports show different data because the methodologies used to study the matter are different from one another,"said Santiago. He said that the MWA report is more accurate compared to the other as it was produced by experts in the Works Ministry. "The NWRS report was prepared by Redhill Bersekutu Sdn Bhd, SMH Sdn Bhd and Jurutera Perunding Zaaba Sdn Bhd. "These three companies have business interests in the water industry and we can question the report as it involves conflict of interest and the methodology used by NRWS is highly speculative," he said. "For example, one of the variables used by the report is estimating the nation’s GDP growth from 2000 till 2050. When they projected it, they never considered a negative growth in that period and as you know, we had a negative growth last year. "In addition, it calculated that we will have a population growth on an annual basis but from 1995 till 2005, our nation witnessed a population decrease from 3.7% to 3.4%," said Santiago.

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