Tuaran: The State Government will ensure the twin water and electricity supply issues faced by Sabahans will be resolved in two to three years from now.Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said initiatives have been to taken to increase the supply capacity of both these basic needs.
To address water supply, the Telibong II Water Treatment Plant (LRA) in Tamparuli which is in the final stages of being upgraded is expected to be fully operational next year and increase supply capacity to 80 million litres a day (MLD).
It would cater to residents in Tuaran and north of Kota Kinabalu, thereby reducing water supply disruptions in both areas.
Hajiji said this was among additional water treatment plants constructed to deal with the problem in the state capital and surrounding areas, including another water treatment plant at Kogopon, Papar.
“The State Government has also started building another plant in Kogopon, Papar, to increase water supply from 40 MLD to 80 MLD at a cost of RM380 million and scheduled to complete in 2026,” he said, when opening the 2023 Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) annual meeting (Sulaman Division) at Dewan Sri Sulaman, Sunday.
Hajiji is confident that through this effort along with the Federal Government’s RM320 million allocation to resolve short-term water problems in Sabah, the issue can be addressed more effectively.
On electricity supply, he said, efforts include constructing a hydroelectric power plant and a dam in Ulu Padas, Tenom. The project will begin in the near future and launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“This is what the Government is doing to ensure that the people can obtain water and electricity supply which is a problem now, and we will make sure that these two issues can be solved at least two or three years from now.
“If managed well, God-willing we can overcome these two issues which are worrying the people at the moment.
“We are a responsible government, because of that we make careful plans and ensure that development projects go according to schedule and are implemented well,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hajiji who is Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) President, expressed confidence that the party and its component allies under Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) are capable of defending the four State seats in Tuaran in the next State Election (PRN).
Hajiji, who is Sulaman Assemblyman, is optimistic in addition his seat, the Pantai Dalit, Tamparuli and Kiulu seats would remain under GRS with the cooperation of the component parties.
“In Tuaran, I guarantee Sulaman, Pantai Dalit, Tamparuli and Kiulu will still belong to GRS in the next PRN. We are ready to face any challenge and fight with any party that opposes us in Tuaran.
“What is important is cooperation between us, there should be no sabotage. If GRS has decided on a candidate, then it is our job as Gagasan Rakyat to make sure our candidate wins.”
Also present were Gagasan Rakyat Deputy President Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun and leaders of the component parties in GRS, Pakatan Harapan Sabah and Gagasan Rakyat Sabah.
