TAWAU: The State Government and the Disaster Management Committee have been urged to make early preparations and not just react after water shortages occur in Sabah during the dry season.
Sri Tanjong Assemblyman Justin Wong, made the call following the hot weather in Tawau and forecasts of the El Niño phenomenon expected to hit Malaysia in July.
He noted that Tawau previously faced a water crisis lasting at least 72 hours in August last year due to limited water resources.
He claimed that disruptions to water supply caused by such disasters clearly reveal the government’s weakness in managing the issue, which often reacts late and only seeks solutions after the problem arises.
“During this critical period, water pipes in Tawau still frequently burst. Old pipes are repaired only at damaged spots without a comprehensive solution,” he said.
He urged the government to take the matter seriously by ensuring that all repair works are evaluated for professionalism, completed in a shorter timeframe, and that repaired pipes are durable and will not break again.
He added that the Sabah State Government’s 2026 budget totals RM800 million, with an additional allocation of over RM300 million from the federal government.
He believes the state government should provide daily updates on water levels and supply to the public and leverage social media to keep communities informed, raising awareness about the importance of conserving water.
“The government must ensure widespread use of social media to report daily water levels and water production volumes. If water levels start to drop, the public should be informed immediately, not just issued last-minute notices,” he emphasized.
Under the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK12), more than RM3 billion has been approved for 18 projects to improve water supply.
Wong hopes the Sabah government will manage all allocations transparently to prevent the recurrence of water-related scandals.
He further noted that water shortages due to the dry season are not a new issue but are becoming increasingly serious each year.
“We sincerely hope the state government makes thorough preparations to ensure the basic rights of the people are safeguarded,” he said.
As a record, hot weather is returning as several areas in Peninsular Malaysia are currently under level two heatwave warnings.
Perlis has reportedly not received rainfall for 15 days, while Papar has gone 17 days without rain, with hot conditions expected to continue until June.
The El Niño phenomenon is expected to hit Malaysia in July, which will bring even hotter weather.
