PSM supports referendum on S'gor water assets

Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) has urged the Selangor government to conduct a referendum on the management of state water assets.

Its secretary-general S Arutchelvan said the PSM is of the view that referendum can be carried out using available facilities and the state electoral roll.

He said the people have the right to choose between water concessionaire Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) and the state government.

“Water is a fundamental right and should not be left solely in the hands of politicians to decide how and when it should be used,” he said in a statement.

“PSM supports fully the state government’s (proposal) to take over the management of water. In view of this, it is critical for the state government to show it has the people’s support. And what better way to show this than to conduct a referendum?”

Arutchelvan noted that privatisation of basic amenities would rob the people while allowing  capitalists to get unlimited profits.

Residents associations and NGOs can assist in making this referendum a reality, he added, while credible institutions like the Human Rights Commission can be involved in order to ensure that the referendum is a free and fair process.

Yesterday, Selangor executive councillor Dr Xavier Jayakumar had proposed that the state should hold a referendum for the people of Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.

“I think we can have a referendum very easily done. We can do in all the nine administrative districts in Selangor,” he said.