SAHABAT Alam Malaysia (SAM) has called on the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister to revoke the appointment of Datuk Abdul Kadir Din as the chairman of the National Water Services Commission (SPAN).
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof is also the Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA).
SAM president Meenaskhi Raman said this is due to the possibility of conflicts of interest, given his connection to private water and waste management-related companies.
This is even with him relinquishing various posts, as he still wields influence, she claimed.
According to recent media reports, PETRA had said that the newly appointed chairman resigned from his posts from the companies involved.
Media reports state that Kadir was the managing director of Sacra Sol Sdn Bhd, a waste management company and also advisor to Ranhill Holdings Bhd, which is linked to Ranhill SAJ Sdn Bhd, a company managing water services in Johor.
"In our view, the resignation of Kadir from these companies does not provide sufficient comfort and assurance, because the mere likelihood or perception of a conflict of interest remains," she said in a statement.
For good governance and the integrity of SPAN in carrying out its functions without any fear of favour, any chairman or member of the Commission must be independent and remain unconnected to the water supply or sewerage services industry.
This is because SPAN is meant to be an independent body to supervise and regulate water supply and sewerage services, which is a vital function to be performed in the public interest, free from the influence of vested interests.
SPAN must command public confidence that it is capable of reforms needed for a sustainable, secure and resilient water sector prepared to meet the challenges of climate change, ensure operational efficiency, enable good governance and free from corruption.
SAM lauds the efforts of the previous chairman Chales Santiago in setting the right direction and foundation for reforms to be undertaken, and SAM deeply regrets that his tenure has not been continued.
"Given the current concerns and controversy over the appointment of the new chairman, we reiterate our call for the revocation of the appointment of Kadir.
“We urge the prime minister to step in and facilitate the appointment of an independent chairman who has no baggage or connections with the water and sewerage services sector."
Meanwhile, Penang Consumers Protection Association president Datuk K. Koris Atan said that the appointment of anyone to statutory bodies must be accompanied by a due process of transparency and accountability.
The individuals must declare their assets and advocate what they intend to execute when holding such positions, said Koris.
He said that such positions should also be long-term, as the individuals are counted on to initiate institutional reforms within their respective organisations.
"This requires time and patience."
"The present leaders were accorded power because they had preached about reforms. It is now timely to act on it, not just preach about it," said Koris. - May 9, 2025.
