Kota Kinabalu: Former Kota Kinabalu MP Datuk Hiew King Cheu urged the government to be diligent in checking all water supply facilities.
He said many tanks or reservoirs, private or public, have not been cleaned for a long time or are not up to hygiene standards.
“We don’t want our health affected due to consuming the dirty or even tainted water,” the former Luyang Assemblyman said in a statement.
Hiew, a water supply engineer, said water from the treatment plant might be clean but can be contaminated during distribution and storage.
“There is serious lack of cleanliness inspection on these facilities in Sabah.
“It’s common for sludge in the form of dirt deposit, sediments, rust or biological waste to accumulate at the bottom of pipelines, storage tanks and concrete reservoirs.
“If this is not flushed or wash to drain, it will form a thick layer.
At present there are no regulations making sure the relevant government agencies like the Public Works Department, Health Department, Water Department or even Fire Department to check on the condition of water tanks.
“Therefore, consumers are forced to unknowingly continue to consume potentially bad water.
“We must ensure a clean water storage tank and reservoir is compulsory. It is a crime that dirty and filthy water is supplied to the people,” he said.
