style="text-transform: uppercase;">Kota Kinabalu: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan (pic) has rubbished claims by several groups that people in Penampang are being victimised to end an imminent water crisis in the West Coast. He said the Kaiduan Dam project is a "genuine" effort to ensure adequate supply of treated water for the growing population of the West Coast, adding that it was a "sensible" thing to build the dam.

The Government has anticipated that by 2030 the Babagon Dam would no longer be able to support the West Coast population, which is expected to grow to over one million by then.

But Pairin said the Kaiduan Dam would be able to cater to the growing number stretching from Tuaran to Papar.

"So we need to comply with the additional requirement," he said, after launching the World Water Day Exhibition and Lecture, here.

"If it is not built, in the future when water has become scarce who will complain? So it is for the good of all," he added.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat's Moyog Assemblyman Terrence Siambun had earlier alleged that the Penampang folk have for years been victimised to solve such crisis, saying lands are taken away to construct dams.

He said first it was the Babagon Dam itself in the 90s, during which Pairin was the Chief Minister, and now Kaiduan in Ulu Papar.

"Jadi sekarang ni ambil tanah lagi. Jadi itulah salah satunya. Tapi kami mau bantah dengan projek ini. Cukup sudalah. (Now they want to take our land again. It is one of the reasons we oppose to the project)," said Siambun, who led a group of villagers in a peaceful protest against the proposed dam at the event.

The group was composed of villagers from Ulu Papar and from the Sabah Save River non-governmental organisation.

Siambun also expressed worry that the pipelines, expected to be laid over private lands, would be acquired to make way for their installation.

While promising to take his protest to the State Assembly, he suggested the Government build more catchment areas and fix leaky pipes to reduce its non-revenue water (NRW).

At present, the State has recorded a 51 per cent NRW, believed to be one of the highest in the country, while the city recorded a 39 per cent NRW.

"It's not that we are selfish but the villagers have had enough of their land issues at present," he said.

However, Pairin when met said the Penampang villagers had been misinformed over the Kaiduan Dam project, believing the numbers of those to be relocated for the project had been exaggerated.

"Based on the latest information, it is 110 homes. Surely those who don't agree to the plan, they will give the wrong information," he said.

Earlier concerns have been raised by NGOs that the controversial dam will see some eleven villages or more than 1,000 villagers relocated to make way for the bigger dam.

Still, Pairin said he is open to ideas to improve the situation, saying that the Water Department officers are now investigating the NRW and will address them soon.

He also said that by 2018 two more treatment plants would be added to the existing ones to improve the quality of water from catchment areas.

Pairin also toyed with the idea of a desalinisation plant to tap sea water and treat it for drinking water but said it is not the time yet, as the amount of rainfall in Sabah is still sufficient to cater to the present masses.

He said plans for a dialogue with the groups, non-governmental organisations and villagers are presently in the works.

"Sabar-Sabar la (just be patient)," he said.