LABUAN: The continuing dry taps that plague tens of hundreds of consumers throws a wet blanket on potential investors and unless effectively addressed would be challenging to attract interest.
Labuan Chinese Chamber of Commerce Chairman Datuk Wong Kii Yii said this in reference to an 800MM type HDPE pipe bust at Kampung Sungai Labu last Sunday, causing a section of the road to collapse and closed to traffic.
Advertisement
According to the Water Department, the incident disrupted water supplies to about 30 locations, including the Matriculation College, high residential houses and various commercial premises and homes.
Repairs are underway.
Wong said it is surprising that despite the approved contingency allocation of RM300 million in 2024, Labuan is still facing burst pipes with the same frequency as before.
He suggested that the Ministry set aside a special allocation for Labuan for immediate use to purchase replacement parts and have the job done fast, to minimise the impact of the burst pipe.
He said Labuan Corporation (LC) was now offering its idle assets for commercial development to boost the local economy but “without the water problems solved it would be difficult to stir interest.”
Over the years, the Government through it agents have distributed water storage tanks to hundreds of households.
Wong said if the water supply disruption is for some hours it is okay, but if it lasts for days the storage tanks are also empty.
According to a report in December 2024, replacement of aged pipes under Phase 1 and 2 at the water treatment plant at Lawa Gadong, Beaufort, affected 20,000 in Labuan.
In the same year in July, some 8,000 were “waterless” because of a major burst at the pump station at Rancha Rancha.
