Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Government must take action against oil palm plantations that have gone against the law by planting too close to the river bank to ensure the safety of the treated water supply in Sandakan, said Karamunting assemblyman, George Hiew Vun Zin. 

Hiew said the salty water supply in Sandakan also made the people in the district concerned with the safety of the water supply as there are oil palm plantations along the Sungai Segaliud, which is the only source of the Segaliud Water Treatment Plant. 

“The people are concerned with chemicals such as pesticides and fertiliser from these plantations and estates that might flow or discharge to the river, polluting the only source of water for the people in Sandakan,” he said in a statement.