TONGOD: All department heads in the district should be accountable if their inaction results in hardship for residents, said Kuamut Assemblyman Datuk Masiung Banah.
The Chairman of the Sabah Housing and Town Development Board (LPPB) said ineffective governance among department heads should not be repeated if they do not want their deficiencies to be reported to the highest level.
“Any negligent district-level department heads’ conduct should not be treated lightly,” he said.
He was referring to the Sabah Water Department’s office in Tongod, where supply had been interrupted for more than a week due to lack of funds for the purchase of diesel for the water pumps being the reason.
The water supply disruption affected over 10,000 residents from 18 villages in Tongod and Penangah.
He said that the Tongod Water Department’s justification lacked maturity.
“I received a tonne of calls and WhatsApp messages from the concerned residents. Perhaps the District Water Department failed to send to headquarters request for emergency fund,” he added.
Masiung said the shut-off of water supply made it more challenging to put out the fire that broke out on July 17 in the male dormitory on the third level of SMK Tongod.
“Don’t create problems that makes life difficult for the local residents,” he said.
Earlier he visited the male dormitory at SMK Tongod, which had been destroyed by a fire brought on by the main switch room, which was also used to store mattresses.
