Why not send water direct to affected?
Published on: Tuesday, March 05, 2024
Jamuntai (left) said Joniston should at least provide one water intake point in each affected village.
KIULU: Villagers here claim Sabah Public Works Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya and Kiulu Assemblyman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, are indifferent to the water supply problems in the area.
Tuaran Warisan Deputy Head Jamuntai Lahoi said the residents are upset with the statement asking them to fetch water at the Tamparuli District Office.
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They said it is unreasonable because it is located far from the village.
“From Kiulu town alone, it takes 30 minutes to drive to the District Office. What if from the village? This is not a solution,” said Jamuntai in a statement.
He said that in a situation where the cost of living is getting higher, many could not afford to travel to and from the Tamparuli District Office just for water.
Now is the dry season, there is no gravity water because it has not rained for a long time.
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“The villagers’ crops were destroyed. How can they sell the produce? How can they find a source of income?
“Have pity on sick villagers, elderly and pregnant mothers. This problem of no water supply will further harm their situation,” said Jamuntai.
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Jamuntai who was a former Tamparuli UPPM Community Development Officer (CDO) said in 2019 there was a drought in Kiulu.
At that time, the action taken was to send water supplies to the affected villages in collaboration with the Public Service Department, he said.
"With this method, the villagers were not burdened to go back and forth to the Tamparuli District Office,” he said.
Jamuntai said Joniston should at least provide one water intake point in each affected village.
“The villagers only need to make temporary pipe connections to their respective houses until the end of the dry season,” he said.
Jamuntai said Joniston should defend the fate of Kiulu residents and prioritise their well-being.
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