Source: The Star, 27 November 2007

KUANTAN: The National Water Services Commission (SPAN) has not fixed a time frame for states that have yet to corporatise their water supply departments to do so.

However, these states will lose out in terms of funding from Pengurusan Aset Air Bhd (PAAB) once the Water Services Industry Act 2006 comes into force on Jan 1.

SPAN chairman Tan Sri Zaini Omar said Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Kedah, Perlis and Labuan Federal Territory had yet to undertake the corporatisation exercise.

“These states and Labuan can still proceed with their operations under the current system but they will be subjected to SPAN, which is the regulatory body on all aspects of water services, once the act is enforced.

“They will not, however, get funding from PAAB, and will have to survive on their own,” Zaini told reporters after the official opening of the 20th annual meeting of district water engineers action committee by Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob here yesterday.

Adnan also launched a directory of water engineers and managers in the country, and later opened a water technology exhibition at the Berjaya Megamall shopping centre here.

Committee chaiman Yusof Saroji said a full list of names in the directory would be posted on the department's official website as soon as possible to make it easier for the public to lodge reports on any problem relating to water supply.