Source: New Straits Times , 14 August 2007

PAHANG will be paid 10 sen per cubic metre (1,000 litre) under an agreement for the proposed sale of raw water to Selangor.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, who disclosed the rate at the one-day assem­bly session yesterday, said the amount had been agreed up­on in a recent meeting be­tween officials of the two states.

He said Pahang was expect­ed to earn an annual average income of over RM82 million from the deal.

"Under the Pahang to Selan­gor raw water supply project, the state's income for supply­ing a projected average of 2.26 million cubic metres per day, at a royalty rate of 10 sen per cubic metre, is RM82.49 mil­lion a year."

The subject of raw water supply to Selangor was a hot topic among assemblymen during debates in past ses­sions following reports that Pahang had initially been of­fered just two sen per cubic metre.

Adnan said the rate under the agreement could be re­viewed in future when the need arose.

"This is not an agreement akin to those imposed on our forefathers during colonial times, where terms as long as the sun and the moon shine were used to bind us to it for­ ever," he said.

Adnan, who was replying to a question by Choong Ching Van (BN-Tanah Rata) on the matter, said proceeds from the water sale would mainly be used to replace Pahang's ageing water pipe network.

Work on the infrastructure of the proposed RM9 billion In­terstate Raw Water Transfer project to Selangor was ex­pected to start later this year with the construction of the Kelau Dam near Raub.

The second stage involves construction of a pipe network to supply the raw water to Langat, Selangor. The net­work includes pumping sta­tions and intake reservoirs.

The final stage involves the building of the Langat 2 water treatment plant and pipe feed­ing into the main distribution network in Selangor.