This is because the state, under the administration of Khalid’s successor, Mohamed Azmin Ali, has yet to finalise the cost of SPLASH’s takeover, said Azmin’s political secretary and Sri Muda Assemblyman Shuhaimi Shafiei.

In fact, the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry (KeTTHA), in a letter dated Oct 17 this year, had agreed to appoint international independent evaluators to value and propose a fair amount for the takeover, he added.

“KeTTHA has proposed for a six-month extension to finalise the agreements for the state’s restructuring of its water industry.

“The SPLASH takeover can only be finalised when the state and the federal governments, as well as SPLASH, jointly agree to the value to set by these international evaluators.

“Until then, no amount has been set in stone and, hence, claims made by Khalid are merely propaganda,” he said in a statement this evening.

The New Straits Times (NST) earlier today reported Khalid, in a Nov 6 letter to PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang, had stated that the amount Azmin’s administration offered to SPLASH totalled about RM4.8 billion, including RM2.7 billion for taking over SPLASH’s equity and RM1.58 billion for its liabilities.

Khalid claimed he had in the past only offered a total of RM2.9 billion.

Shuhaimi then questioned how Khalid came up with the figure and suggested that the latter’s assumption was motivated by a certain agenda.

“I am confused by the eagerness of Khalid and his former private secretary (Faekah Husin) to attack the process of the SPLASH takeover by coming up with so much speculation and by spreading lies that gave rise to baseless doubts among the people of Selangor.

“Such propaganda must be stopped.”

He then advised the Port Klang assemblyman to attend the state assembly sittings instead of creating tension outside the House.

Khalid and Azmin have been involved in a battle of words over the past week over the SPLASH issue.