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Kota Kinabalu: A Facebook post by a concerned netizen had drawn attention to the ongoing water woes faced by residents of Kg Manduring, Kanibongan, in Bengkoka.

The post, written by Paulina Henry, expressed frustration over the muddy water supplied to the village and questioned why the government has failed to provide clean water despite years of complaints. 

Although Paulina now resides in Kuala Lumpur for work, she said she remains deeply concerned for her parents and siblings who continue to live in the village.

“Water is the most important source of life. Why is the government not looking seriously into the welfare of the people?” she asked.

She highlighted that villagers have endured dirty water for years, describing the situation as unacceptable. 

In her frustration, she even compared the water in her toilet bowl in the city to the water supplied in her hometown in Pitas.

Residents also pointed out that the water is not free, as the Sabah Water Department bills them monthly, yet the quality remains poor. 

Complaints about “dirty storage tanks” or “empty pipes” were dismissed as weak excuses. 

“If the tank is dirty, why is there no regular maintenance?” she questioned.

She criticised the suggestion that villagers themselves should organise a gotong-royong to clean the Kanibongan plant, saying it was unfair to burden the community with responsibilities that should fall under government agencies.

Adding to the frustration, villagers reported that unscrupulous salesmen have been exploiting the situation by selling water filters at exorbitant prices. 

One salesman allegedly offered filters at RM8,000, claiming the original price was RM13,000.

She ended her post with a sharp rebuke to political leaders, saying:

“Stop fighting for power if you can’t even solve basic human needs. 

Nobody seems to know how to solve this once and for all. It’s embarrassing.”

The post has since sparked discussions online, showing the growing discontent among rural communities who continue to struggle with unreliable and unsafe water supplies.