Static water tanks way to curb illegal connections
Published on: Sunday, July 07, 2024
By: Jo Ann Mool
Shahelmey said drastic steps must be taken to stabilise supply in northern Kota Kinabalu-Sepanggar area given the challenges, in particular dealing with water thefts due to the existence of both local and migrant squatter settlements.
PUTATAN: Static tanks are being installed to supply water using prepaid meter system in four locations in Sepanggar as among ways to stop locals in squatter settlements from tapping illegally into the water mains and causing supply disruptions, said Deputy Chief Minister III cum Works Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya.
“Once these water tanks are fully operational, we hope it will be able to minimise illegal connections,” he said, adding supply from the 20,000 to 40,000-litre capacity tanks would be chargeable using a prepaid meter system.
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“Since it will be using a prepaid meter system, we need to resolve some documentation issues first before it can be fully implemented,” he said, after officiating the Putatan Farmers’ Organisation Ninth Annual General Meeting, Saturday.
Shahelmey said drastic steps must be taken to stabilise supply in northern Kota Kinabalu- Sepanggar area given the challenges, in particular dealing with water thefts due to the existence of both local and migrant squatter settlements.
He said water thefts are among main reasons for the water woes affecting northern Kota Kinabalu areas, particularly Sepanggar.
Shahelmey also reiterated that the State Government through the Water Department and Jetama Sdn Bhd was building a five-million-litre daily (MLD) water treatment plant in Kasigui under the Urgent Water Supply Scheme to boost supply in the district.
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“Works are expected to be completed by April next year and once it is fully operational, it would boost water pressure and enhance capacity in several areas in Putatan, especially Ketiau, Tombovo and Lok Kawi Baru,” he said, adding it would benefit about 20,000 people.
Apart from that, Shahelmey, who is Putatan MP, said the construction of the Kogopon II Water Treatment Plant that can produce 40MLD is expected to be completed in 2026 and further boost water supply in Putatan.
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“These are among the State Government’s initiatives to improve water facilities in Putatan and Papar,” he said.
Shahelmey reminded the opposition to stop instigating the people without knowing the facts.
“In fact, some of them (opposition) were in the government before. They know that the water problems are not new but it has been there for so many years.
“But the GRS Government is making the efforts day by day, week by week, month by month to implement whatever is for the good of the people. We don’t want to play the instigating game as we rather work and when we have achieved success we will announce it,” he said.
He hoped local community leaders in Putatan including the Farmers' Organisation leadership would share the information about the present government's concern and initiatives to deliver the best service to the people in line with the Sabah Maju Jaya Hala Tuju development plan.
Meanwhile, Shahelmey who is also Tanjung Keramat Assemblyman commended the Putatan Farmers' Organisation for its achievements under the leadership of Datuk Seri Dr Arsit Sedi.
He said the State Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor has a good rapport with the Putatan Farmers' Organisation as evidenced by the approval of a RM150,000 grant to build roofs at the organisation's stalls site here.
"I hope members of the organisation will fully benefit from the State Government's assistance," he said.
Shahelmey also hoped the 1.46 acres of land approved by the TAED Sdn Bhd, a State Government's subsidiary, to the organisation in Tanjung Aru beach, would be developed to help its members venture into the food business.
He also thanked the Malaysia Farmers Organisation Authority for approving the RM500,000 Peladang Outlet at Kampung Meruntum, which happened to be in the Tanjung Keramat constituency.
He hoped the organisation would continue to hold activities and programmes, especially in entrepreneurship benefitting its members.
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