THE Sabah Water Department (JANS) will implement 77 projects under the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13), involving 34 continuation projects from the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK12), which are expected to be completed by 2026 and 43 new projects approved by the State Government, starting from 2026.
“The projects are funded under the State Government programme (D33 vote) to expand water supply coverage across Sabah,” said Deputy Chief Minister I cum Works and Utility Minister Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam.
“Under the Federal Easy Loan Programme, a total of 17 projects have been approved throughout RMK12 (2021-2025).
“For 2023 to 2025, covering Rolling Plans Three, Four and Five, the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (Petra) approved seven projects totalling RM1.038 billion in loans and one project worth RM3 million as a grant,” he said in his winding-up speech on Wednesday.
He said as of December 2025, three projects have begun implementation, two projects are awaiting Delegation of Authority approval, expected to start in January 2026, one project will be tendered in 2026 and two remaining projects are in the process of obtaining approval to appoint consultancy services for detailed design work and must go through the Value Management Laboratory stage.
Responding to Balung Assemblyman’s suggestion regarding using distilled water as an alternative raw water source, Dr Joachim said the water distillation method involves high operating costs, particularly in terms of heat or electricity requirements for evaporation and condensation processes.
“This method is typically applied on a small scale or for specific uses, such as industry and is not suitable as a large-scale public water supply.
“In addition, implementing the distillation method also requires construction of special plants with high capital costs, continuous energy use and more complex maintenance costs compared to conventional water treatment methods,” he said.
He said that as a long-term solution to increase treated water supply coverage in Balung and surrounding areas, JANS had planned a Rural Water Supply (BALB) project under the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) costing RM328 million, currently at the detailed engineering design stage.
“The main target of this project is to ensure every house in the affected area receives treated water supply through a complete water supply system.
“This project has gone through the Value Study Laboratory process and is expected to be tendered in 2026,” he said.
For Sekong, Dr Joachim said the KKDW had approved the BALB Reticulation System Project 2018/2019 for the Sandakan Division with a total cost of RM9 million and an implementation period of 60 weeks.
“The Letter of Acceptance was signed by the contractor on Oct 29, 2025, with pipe installation to Kampung Bambangan included in the project scope,” he said.
Addressing concerns raised by the Sook assemblyman on upgrading the water supply system, Dr Joachim said there are currently no plans to upgrade the system or the main pump equipment at the Pekan Sook Water Treatment Plant.
“However, JANS planned to expand water supply coverage through the BALB Project in Trans Pegalan and surrounding areas, Sook, which is now in the pre-implementation phase under the KKDW supervision with an approved ceiling cost of RM40 million,” he said.
He said the project will benefit six villages, namely Kampung Bomboi, Kampung Kindasan, Kampung Panagatan Laut, Kampung Panagatan Ulu, Kampung Kesugui and Kampung Magatang, involving 489 houses that will receive a more stable and continuous water supply.
For Tanjong Papat, Dr Joachim said JANS signed two contracts in 2025 to carry out recovery work and operation and maintenance work for the Segaliud Water Treatment Plant, totalling RM287.84 million for a three-year implementation period.
“For the Hilltop Water Treatment Plant, JANS has appointed consultancy services to carry out raw water supply source investigation work.
“The scope involved includes identifying the adequacy of groundwater sources, making recommendations for new water sources and also carrying out repair work for tube wells that still have the potential to supply raw water for Hilltop Water Treatment Plant operations,” he said.
He also said the maintenance, repair and routine maintenance of the water pipeline project at Sandakan, Kinabatangan and Beluran is being implemented to address water pipe leakage issues throughout the three districts for three years.
Additionally, the Pipe Replacement Work Project at Kampung Tinusa 2 in Sandakan is being implemented, involving pipe replacement work along 15.8 kilometres.
