Residents to YBs: Where are you?
Published on: Monday, January 08, 2024
By: Sherell Jeffrey
Golden Hill Garden and Taman Waja residents united in their quest for reliable and transparent water supply system.
Kota Kinabalu: Residents in Golden Hill Garden and Taman Waja want their elected Luyang and Kota Kinabalu representatives to step in and resolve their long-standing water predicament since 2022.
“We have been experiencing irregular and insufficient water supply impacting our daily lives and routines since 2022,” said Dr Halimuddin Sawali and Tracy Lai, spokespersons for Golden Hill Garden and Taman Waja, respectively.
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According to them, the situation has reached a tipping point, with households having difficulty getting basic clean and consistent water supply.
“From disruptions in household chores to concerns about hygiene and sanitation, the water crisis has become a central issue affecting the quality of life for residents,” they said.
They claimed that to ensure an adequate supply of household water, families went to the expense of buying second storage tanks, paying to have them installed and now find themselves paying hundreds of Ringgit more in increased water charges than in prior bills.
“We are appealing to our elected representatives to intervene and collaborate with relevant authorities to find a lasting solution,” they added.
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In addition, the residents are calling for increased transparency from the Water Department regarding the water supply rationing schedules.
They claimed the Department has yet to notify households of when or for how long the water would be turned off. They claim that the water is turned off at inconvenient times such as weekday evenings when people are returning home from work, all day on weekends and even during holidays.
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“Clear communication on when water rationing will occur is important for residents to plan and prepare accordingly. By having access to accurate and timely information, we can organise our daily activities and store water as needed, mitigating the impact of sudden shortages,” they said.
Residents are also seeking clarity on the reasons behind the prolonged water supply issue.
“Understanding the root causes will not only empower residents with knowledge but will also foster a sense of trust between the community and the Water Department,” they said.
They said prior to 2022, their locality did not suffer from water shortage, cut offs or poor customer service from the Department.
“Why the change now? What is the cause of this disruption since 2022? The Department should be responsible to all its customers. It has been highly lacking in good customer relations by burying its head in the sand, ignoring customer concerns and complaints and pretending that the problem does not exist. Transparency is needed and better communication in the short term as well as the long term,” they said.
They also wanted to know if Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu (DBKK) had investigated whether existing water supply could sustain the needs of new developments before issuing licences.
“Does a plan exist to ensure that the water capacity meets the needs of the entire city as well as future developments? As it exists where increased demands outstrip the volume of water held in storage, has there been an active policy of keeping some facilities operable such as tourist hotels by switching off the water supply in residential areas?” they asked.
“We hope a comprehensive solution can be planned to bring an end to the water supply woes that have plagued Golden Hill Garden and Taman Waja for far too long,” they said.
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