Chamber: Don’t delay on water. Says RM700 million extended to Sabah so far
Published on: Friday, March 08, 2024
Lui said the Malaysian Meteorological Department predicts that the high-temperature weather in Sabah will continue until June, which may lead to a serious shortage situation in the State.
Kota Kinabalu: The Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCCI) urged the State Government not to delay implementing various water supply plans through the relevant agencies that to date have totalled RM700 million.
Its President Datuk Michael Lui described the approval of an additional allocation of RM100 million by the Economy Ministry to resolve the problem on Wednesday as positive.
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He noted the Federal Government had allocated RM300 million as a loan in September 2023; RM163.55 million under the Fourth Rolling Plan, and four new projects costing RM200 million, with a total of more than RM700 million, to solve the water supply problems in Sabah.
He believes these allocations would accelerate the short-term water supply solutions implemented by the State Government.
“The people of Sabah hope the Government can quickly solve the water shortage problem in the short term.
Prolonging water shortages have seriously affected our daily life. This is an immediate problem faced by Sabah and the people, and it must be solved as soon as possible.
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“The Government must find good solutions to ensure normal water supply. Allowing the people to obtain water supply is the true credibility of the Government’s so-called consideration of the welfare and interests of the people of Sabah.”
Lui said the Malaysian Meteorological Department predicts that the high-temperature weather in Sabah will continue until June, which may lead to a serious shortage situation in the State.
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“Since the State Government was alerted that the dams in Sabah could only meet the water demand for the next three months, it should have made preparations for the hot climate and tried its best to avoid water supply problems being affected by the dry season.”
Michael supports making good use of funds allocated by the Federal Government to Sabah to repair and upgrade the State’s water supply equipment, including increasing dam storage, replacing water pumps in water treatment plants, and repairing and replacing water pipes.
“We must seriously look into the problems of non-revenue water losses, water theft and repairing of broken water and underground water pipes,” he said.
Michael said the people do not want to see the relevant agencies continue to take negative measures such as expanding water restriction areas and times to resolve the water shortage.
“The Government must solve the problem of water supply shortage once and for all, and not let the water supply crisis continue to worsen and seriously affect our lives in Sabah,” he said.
Meanwhile, water supply to several areas in Kota Kinabalu and Penampang will be disrupted for 10 days beginning Thursday (March 7) due to a reduced output from the Moyog water treatment plant (LRA) here.
The Sabah Water Supply Department (JANS), in a statement Thursday, said treated water production would be reduced from 189 million litres daily to 187 million litres following replacement works for Filter Media No 3 of the LRA.
“The affected areas will experience water supply disruption and restoration in stages.
“Consumers in the affected areas are advised to store enough water and to use water prudently,” the statement said.
The affected areas here include the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, Kota Kinabalu City Centre, Kepayan, Tanjung Aru, Sembulan, Karamunsing, Signal Hill, Likas, Tanjung Lipat, Inanam, Kolombong, Luyang, Putatan and Bukit Padang.
The affected areas in Penampang are Penampang town, Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA) Culture Centre in Donggongon, Jalan Penampang Baru and Jalan Penampang-Papar Lama.
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