SANDAKAN: The ongoing water crisis in Sandakan can be resolved, but only if water concessionaire Timatch Group and the Sabah Water Department work together, said State Community Development and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk James Ratib.
Speaking during his visit to the Bandar Leila booster pump on Monday, he stressed that two clear solutions had been identified — activating 10 newly identified boreholes and increasing water production by at least five million litres per day (MLD) at the Kinabatangan Water Treatment Plant.
“These two solutions are actually not difficult, but if there is no cooperation between Timatch Group and the Sabah Water Department (SWD), it becomes a huge problem. The people will suffer, and the government will be blamed,” he said.
James explained that while the Bandar Leila booster pump is meant to help distribute water to Bandar Nam Tung, Bandar Leila and Bandar Ramai-Ramai, it is only operational at night due to insufficient supply from the Sibuga Water Treatment Plant.
“This booster pump only works at night because water usage is lower then. But even that is not enough. The real issue is that it draws water from R1 and R4, which rely on the Sibuga Water Treatment Plant.
“To solve this, we are asking Timatch Group, which manages the Kinabatangan Water Treatment Plant, to increase capacity by at least five MLD so that Sibuga gets enough supply,” he said.
The second solution, he added, is for the SWD to start operating 10 boreholes to improve supply.
“We need at least five new boreholes to be built, whether by the concessionaire or the SWD, to resolve Sandakan’s water supply issue in the long term. I have been informed by engineers that each borehole can be completed in one to two months. This is not a long time.”
James also urged Timatch Group to take responsibility for the water supply issue, noting that they signed an agreement with the government to manage water resources.
“They cannot make excuses. We also ask the SWD and Timatch Group to work together technically. Do not burden the people because this responsibility has already been given to them,” he stressed.
Sandakan, home to nearly 500,000 residents, depends on four main sources — Segaliud, Bukit Garam, Sibuga, and Hilltop water treatment plants. However, the Hilltop plant was shut down in April last year after being deemed non-operational, worsening the situation.
The SWD had previously attributed the crisis to demand outpacing supply, with Sandakan requiring 190 MLD daily while current production stands at only 165 MLD — a shortfall of 25 MLD.
Segaliud, which supplies 50 per cent of Sandakan’s water, has experienced lower raw water levels due to prolonged dry weather, while Bukit Garam, another key source, has also been affected.
James reiterated that ensuring a stable supply requires urgent cooperation between Timatch Group and the SWD.
Meanwhile, Karamunting Assemblyman Datuk George Hiew Vun Zin, who accompanied James on the visit, said the water crisis has been worsening since last year, with some areas in Sandakan experiencing a total cut in January for almost three weeks.
“We have been engaging with the SWD and the Infrastructure Development Ministry since last October. When the issue became worse in January, I pushed for Cabinet intervention, and James, being from Sandakan, helped raise the issue,” he said.
He noted that while some progress had been made, with water supply in affected areas improving by about 30 per cent, the crisis is far from over.
“With an additional 5 MLD from Kinabatangan and the activation of boreholes, this crisis can be resolved as soon as possible,” he said.
Hiew also thanked the Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and James for their concerns and efforts, but stressed that the water issue could not be delayed any further.
“This issue affects everyone, especially the elderly, who have had to rely on neighbours or find alternative places to bathe and stay. Hopefully, with these solutions, things will return to normal soon,” he said.
