Kota Kinabalu: Civil society group, Change Advocate Movement Sabah (Camos) has urged the State Government to be open and set clear rules before changing how Sabah’s water supply is run.
“The plan to corporatise water services could lead to less government control and higher water bills for the people,” said Camos President Daniel John Jambun in a statement, here.
“Corporatisation, if poorly designed or inadequately safeguarded, risks becoming a pathway to commercialisation and eventual privatisation,” Daniel said, referring to the announcement by Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun that the State Cabinet has agreed in principle to corporatise Sabah’s water supply services.
Daniel pointed out past experiences that show these changes often start with promises of better service.
“Such processes often begin with assurances of efficiency but later evolve into reduced public accountability, higher costs to consumers and diminished State control,” he said.
He agrees that water services need to be improved but pointed out that water is too important to be treated like a business.
“The issue also affects rural communities, native lands and Sabah’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
“Water is not just a utility … it is a fundamental public trust and a strategic State resource,” he said.
Additionally, he voiced concern about the lack of information being shared with the public.
“No details have been disclosed regarding the consultant appointed to conduct the corporatisation study, including their terms of reference or methodology.
“There has been no public consultation with stakeholders, civil society or affected communities,” he said.
“We therefore call on the State Government to publicly commit to the minimum safeguards, namely, the State must own the water company completely with no sell-offs allowed and privatisation must be clearly banned.
“On top of that, rural areas must be guaranteed water supply by law, the consultant’s full report must be made public, the State Assembly, not just the Cabinet, must oversee it and Federal agencies or Federal Government companies must be blocked from taking control of Sabah’s water,” he said.
He said major structural reforms affecting essential services must not be decided behind closed doors or rushed through executive processes.
“Sabahans deserve transparency, consultation and firm legal guarantees.
“Efficiency must never come at the expense of autonomy, equity, or public control. Water is a basic right and a sovereign State resource … it must remain firmly in Sabah’s hands,” he said.
