SHAH ALAM, July 18 (Bernama) -- Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said today the state government would send a letter to the federal government tomorrow informing the latter of its intention to take over the management of water concessionaire Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas).

He said a delegation jointly led by state executive councillors Dr Xavier Jayakumar and Teresa Kok would hand over the letter by hand to the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry in Putrajaya at about 11 am.

"The state government feels it is important that the water issue be resolved immediately for the sake of the well-being of the people in Selangor in particular," he told reporters after chairing the weekly meeting of the state executive council, here.

Asked about the suggestion by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for the state government to submit its plans on the takeover, Abdul Khalid said the state government had the capability in the matter.

"The operation of water management is a management operation. We will show the federal government that we have the capability to do that," he said.

Abdul Khalid said the state government would make an open offer to buy the four water concessionaires in Selangor to implement the restructuring of the water supply industry in the state.

The four are Syabas, Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd (PNSB), Syarikat Pengeluaran Air Sungai Selangor Sdn Bhd (Splash) and Konsortium ABASS.

"I believe Syabas' overhead can be reduced following the takeover," he said, adding that the state government would find ways to reduce the rate of non-revenue water (NRW).

Abdul Khalid also said that the state government would send a professional team to monitor the daily operations of Syabas to determine the current state of treated water in the state.

He said the team would be led by Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Berhad (KDEB) CEO Suhaimi Kamaruzaman and comprise Konsortium ABASS director Ir Abas Abdullah, Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor (KPS) general manager (water management) Karim Endut and KPS Head of Group Strategic Planning and Investment Kevin Lee.

"This measure is in response to the failure of Syabas to provide a satisfactory detailed explanation on several issues relating to supply of clean water in the state at the briefing to the State Secretary this morning," he said.