Kota Kinabalu: Warisan Vice President Datuk Junz Wong urged the State Government and relevant ministries to take seriously warnings of a potential strong El Niño event and act immediately.
Citing the recent scientific projections indicating a high probability of a strong El Niño developing by mid-2026, he said Sabah cannot afford complacency given its existing vulnerabilities.
“As a state whose economy remains closely tied to agriculture, Sabah stands at significant risk from prolonged dry spells and extreme heat conditions associated with El Niño,” he said in a statement, Wednesday.
Wong, who is also Tanjung Aru Assemblyman and former Sabah Agriculture and Food Industries Minister, warned of disruptions if preparations are not made.
He said failure to prepare could disrupt food production, increase costs for farmers and trigger broader economic repercussions.
Wong said Sabah is still facing persistent water supply issues affecting districts, including Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Putatan, Kinarut, Kuala Penyu, Sepanggar, Tawau and Sandakan.
“In such a context, the prospect of a strong El Niño makes it even more urgent for the authorities to address this perennial and pressing water supply problem,” he said.
He added that many rural areas are already prone to prolonged drought, making early intervention, improved water management, increased storage capacity, support for farmers and contingency planning essential.
“The cost of inaction will be far greater than the cost of preparedness, and Sabah must not wait until the situation deteriorates before responding,” he said.
