Kota Kinabalu: More than 200 residents of Kampung Tinata Ulu in Kota Belud can now enjoy access to clean water following the completion of a gravity-fed water supply and rainwater harvesting system supported by Yayasan Petronas and implemented by Taylor’s University.
The village, located about 80km from here, had been dependent on an outdated water system since 2010, which struggled to meet both domestic and agricultural needs.
The new system, featuring a 4km pipeline and central storage tanks with a 3,600 gallon capacity, is expected to significantly improve the villager’s quality of life.
Yayasan Petronas Chief Executive Officer Shariah Nelly Francis said the access to clean water has long been a critical need for the community and hopes the project will makes a lasting impact.
Kampung Tinata’s Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) Chairperson Hadlee Panchai said the improved system has eased their burden.
“We used to do gotong-royong every week just to repair the old pipes. Now we can focus on our livelihoods,” he said.
The 18-month initiative also introduced sustainable farming and maintenance skills through a partnership with local NGO Hopes Malaysia, enabling residents to independently manage the system.
The project falls under Yayasan Petronas’ “Memampankan Ekonomi Asas Rakyat” (Mekar) programme, which focuses on empowering rural communities by meeting basic needs and promoting self-reliance.
This marks the second clean water initiative in the State under Mekar, following a similar effort in Pitas in 2022.
