Kota Kinabalu: The State Government, especially the Water Department, is always sensitive to the issue of water supply disruption that occurs in almost all districts in Sabah.Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said it was a longstanding issue that occurred not only under Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS)-Barisan Nasional (BN) administration, but also under the previous Parti Warisan (Warisan Government).
He said water supply issues in Sabah are attributed to the increasing demand, while certain water treatment plants could not function properly due inconsistent water supply from rivers.
Bung reasoned that the issue is also contributed by leaking main pipes built since the British Government, which was never changed to this day, while illegal pipe connections around Kota Kinabalu also contribute to the issue.
“The State Government is not being silent or making a pact not to take any short-term or long-term actions to address it
“Our short-term action is to make water rations, to enable distribution to be done so that the affected residents are not further affected and assistance in the delivery of clean water supply will be done by the Water Department if the situation becomes more critical,”
He said in a statement in response to Luyang Assemblyman Phoong Jin Zhe who had posted on his social media page on the Government’s lack of action on Sabah’s water woes.
Bung, who is also Works Minister, said Phoong must be reminded that the previous Warisan Government, which the Democratic Action Party (DAP) was a part of, had also failed to improve and enhance the water supply in Sabah.
He reminded Phoong not to twist Sabah’s water woes by relating it to other issues such as the Sky Train and casinos.
Bung said in the long-term, the Government will set up the Sabah Water Services Commission which is one of the initiatives included in the direction of Sabah.
He said it was already discussed in the cabinet meeting and it was even proposed that the water supply in Sabah be privatised.
“Whatever is best to address the issue of water supply in Sabah, the Government will implement it.
“Even so keep in mind that we plan today is impossible to be implemented tomorrow. This is not the story of Aladdin’s magic lamp,” he said.
