PAPAR: Gabungan Rakyat Sabah Deputy Secretary-General Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said Parti Warisan Sabah’s accusation that GRS failed to address Papar’s water supply problem is like spitting at the sky — it falls back to your own face.
He said when Warisan was in power, it failed to ensure that the Kogopon Phase 2 Water Treatment Plant (LRA Kogopon Fasa 2) project was completed on schedule, despite it being slated for completion in 2022.
“The project was delayed as far back as 2020 under the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) and had to be reviewed due to rising costs beginning in 2021, the first year of 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).
“The large-scale project, costing over RM300 million, required federal soft loan financing — and the State Government could not proceed until the project’s Notice of Change (NOC) for cost adjustment was finalised by the Federal Government.
“Actually, the State Government could not proceed with the project procurement until the NOC in project cost was finalized by the Federal Government as the lender.
“The question is, what was the role of then Papar MP from Warisan (Ahmad Hassan) from 2018 to the late 2022, in ensuring that the NOC issue was settled promptly after the Warisan government failed to keep the project on schedule?” he said in a video uploaded on Facebook.
Had the NOC been resolved back then, Armizan, who is also Member of Parliament for Papar, said the water supply problem would have been solved by 2023.
Instead, GRS is now being blamed.
“Starting in January 2023, myself, Kawang Assemblyman Dato’ Sri Ghulam Haidar Khan Bahadar and Limbahau Assemblyman Datuk Juil Nuatim took the initiative to resolve the NOC issue once and for all.
“The matter was finally resolved thanks to the commitment of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, which not only secured the RM366 million funding but also allowed the project to commence immediately,” Armizan said.
Fortunately, he said, two major water supply projects for Papar not only received funding but are already underway:
1. Upgrading of the Kogopon Water Treatment Plant (Phase 2) — from 40 MLD to 80 MLD;
2. Upgrading of the Kg. Kabang Water Intake Point — from 9 MLD to 30 MLD.
He said construction on the Kogopon Phase 2 upgrade began in August 2023 and is expected to be completed within three years by August 2026 — effectively solving Papar’s long-standing water woes.
“Once completed, the plant will increase water supply capacity to 80 MLD (million litres per day) for Papar residents, up from the current 63 MLD supplied by the Kogopon, EWSS Limbahau and Jetama Limbahau plants,” he said.
Armizan, who is also Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, added that the GRS government, under Hajiji’s leadership, also approved the construction of an alternative water intake point in Kg Kabang, Papar as an additional measure to boost water supply in the area from nine MLD to 30 MLD.
The project aims to address the lack of alternative raw water sources, which often leads to supply disruption when chloride levels rise at the existing Limbahau treatment plant.
“Recognising this, the Chief Minister immediately approved the construction of a new water intake point in Kg Kabang to increase raw water supply. Work began in March this year and is now about 37% complete, with completion expected next year.
“Once finished, this water intake point will help resolve the recurring chloride issue in Sungai Papar, which often forces the two Limbahau plants to shut down temporarily during dry spells or high tides.
“This alternative will ensure both plants can continue operating and supplying water to Papar residents even when the current intake points are unusable,” he said.
He called on Papar voters to continue supporting GRS representatives in Kawang, Limbahau, and Pantai Manis in the coming State Election (PRN17).
