The Energy, Water and Communications Ministry drowned in criticism today over its alleged failure to 'communicate'.

The ministry, its minister Dr Lim Keng Yaik and his officers were accused of behaving like a dam with regards to negotiations over two controversial water bills.

This had prompted the Coalition Against Water Privatisation (CAWP) to turn to other leaders to air its grouses.

The coalition wants the government to delay the second reading of the National Water Services Commission (Span) Bill 2006 and the Water Services Industry (WSI) Bill 2006 in Parliament next week.

"We've stressed that we are not against the move to regulate the industry. But we hope the ministry will think of reviewing it," said Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud.

MTUC is a member of the coalition.

Yesterday, the coalition submitted a memorandum to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz and Backbenchers Club head Shahrir Samad, who had announced his resignation earlier.

The minister had promised to bring the matter to the attention of Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

The memorandum entitled 'Water Bills Threaten National Sovereignty and Security' was endorsed by 112 civil society groups.

'Waste of time'

Asked at a press conference in Petaling Jaya today why CAWP did not submit the memorandum to Lim, its coordinator Charles Santiago said bluntly that it would be a 'waste of time'.

However, he said that the coalition was still willing to talk.

"It should not go against the prime minister's (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) will that he wants people to work with him. We want to work with you (Abdullah) but the minister and his officers don't want to work with us," he added.

Santiago claimed that ministry officials were not responsive as numerous attempts to get them to discuss the matter had failed.

"This is the ministry of 'communication' but they don't want to communicate with the people," he said.

He disclosed that the coalition had tried calling, faxing and e-mailing the ministry but there was no response.

One of the main concerns of the coalition is that if the bills were passed, it would risk Malaysia's sovereignty by laying itself at the mercy of global water barons.

Lim had rebutted the claim that Malaysia would allow its water industry to be controlled by foreign corporations.

However, Santiago remained unconvinced, saying the minister does not 'walk the talk'.

"The minister has made many commitments but he does not do anything after all the discussions," he added.

Concrete actions

Meanwhile, Syed also took a swipe at Lim for allegedly not keeping his word that the views and recommendations of civil society groups would be considered.

This was not reflected in the bills, he stressed. "We don't want more lip service but concrete actions."

There were only three minor amendments to the bills out of the 350 recommendations made by civil society groups during 80 public consultations held by the ministry over a period of five months.

Syed said at least 10 of the coalition's members would monitor the debates on the bills should the second reading proceed as scheduled.

The MTUC president also complained that media was not interested in highlighting the issue although it was of public interest.

"Why is the Malaysian press not interested. You are also using water?" he asked.