KOTA KINABALU: Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali has lodged a police report over suspected sabotage of water infrastructure after prolonged supply disruptions hit Mukim Kinarut and Kawang since late December.
He said the report was filed at Kinarut police station on Thursday night after the Sabah Water Department (JANS) told a special meeting that interference was detected at sluice valves at two booster pumps serving the affected areas.
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Preliminary findings by a JANS task force indicated water had been diverted to locations outside Kinarut and Kawang, including beyond the Papar boundary, further reducing supply to communities already under rationing while awaiting completion of Kogopon 2.
The meeting, chaired by the State Secretary with approval from Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor, agreed on immediate tanker deliveries and technical fixes, including pipeline interconnections from the Kogopon plant and a 10 per cent capacity boost at Kogopon 1 as interim relief.
Armizan, who is also Papar MP, said JANS would conduct an internal probe but police must investigate the alleged mischief and sabotage causing public harm, adding that he would defer responding to political statements until the water situation stabilises.
