The Selangor government is confident the acquisition of Syarikat Pengeluar Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Splash) will not involve the enforcement of the Water Services Industry Act 2006 (WSIA).

Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali said this was because he had been informed that the federal government would not use WSIA to resolve disputes over the takeover bid price for Splash by the state government amounting to RM2.98 billion, as there were other methods which could be adopted in the matter.

"This (Splash) is a public-listed company and to protect the image of the federal government, we must be fair because it also involves foreign bonds. Of course, the federal government will give due consideration to these matters.

"In fact, we appointed an international independent valuer a year ago for the negotiations to determine the value of the bid," he told reporters at the state assembly hall lobby in Shah Alam today.

Azmin, meanwhile, maintained his earlier statement that the offer price of RM2.98 billion by the state government to Splash was made as a result of negotiations between the two sides during the administration of former menteri besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

He lashed out at Khalid who claimed the takeover offer made for the acquisition when he helmed the state government was RM250.6 million.

However, Azmin said the offer was not made officially.

"...and this morning I got confirmation from Ramli Mahmud, who was the state secretary at the time, on Abdul Khalid's decision to offer RM2.98 billion to Splash. This is what he must answer to.

"This is because, any increase in water tariffs for industries is subject to reviews which will only be conducted if necessary," he added.

- Bernama