PUTATAN: The water supply to Putatan and southern Kota Kinabalu areas is expected to be more stable once the Kasigui Urgent Water Supply Scheme (UWSS), with a capacity of five million litres per day, is completed this May.
Deputy Chief Minister III cum Works Minister Datuk Ir Shahelmey Yahya said that the UWSS Kasigui project is under construction.
“This is among the development initiatives that are ongoing and will be implemented in the district, including housing projects, water supply and other infrastructure developments,” he said, at the Iftar event with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor at the Putatan District Mosque compound, Wednesday.
Shahelmey, who is also Tanjung Keramat Assemblyman, said two other key infrastructure projects are currently underway — the Putatan District Native Court which is expected to be completed by the end of this year and the new Putatan District Council building, which has now entered the construction phase.
“Since 2022, a total of 61 houses under the Rumah Mesra Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) programme have been completed and occupied by eligible recipients, while 40 new units will be built this year.
“In efforts to enhance housing facilities, the State Government has also supported the application for the construction of 1,000 housing units under the Malaysian People’s Housing Project (PRM) in Lok Kawi.
“The proposed Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Lok Kawi National is also expected to be built this year or, at the latest, next year,” he said.
Shahelmey, who is also Putatan Member of Parliament, hoped more community halls would be built to meet high demand for such facilities.
“Currently, Dewan Seri Putatan is often fully booked, while several other halls remain insufficient to cater to the needs of the residents,” he said.
He said the high population density in Putatan requires more affordable housing, including additional units under the Rumah Mesra SMJ programme. However, land constraints remain a major challenge in implementing these projects.
He hoped the State Government would consider allocating 100 units of Rumah Mesra SMJ for many who need it in the district.
He also stressed the need for a review of the drainage system in Putatan to address the issue of flash floods that frequently affect residential areas and villages.
Shahelmey extended his appreciation to the Chief Minister and the State Government for their commitment to developing Putatan.
Before breaking fast, the Chief Minister presented food baskets donated by the Sabah Zakat Centre to 75 underprivileged individuals in the district.
Hajiji also handed over replica keys to 15 recipients of Rumah Mesra SMJ in the Tanjung Keramat constituency.
