SANDAKAN: Residents of Taman Vila Vista in the Sungai Manila state constituency have raised serious concerns over unstable water supply that they claim has persisted for nearly five years without effective resolution.
The issue is believed to stem from repeated disruptions at the Bukit Garam Water Treatment Plant (LRA), particularly involving frequent pump failures that have worsened since October 2025.
According to residents’ representative Gary Hardin Lugard, the water supply situation has shown no significant improvement despite multiple complaints submitted to the Sandakan branch of the Sabah Water Department.
“Residents often face situations where water is only available around midnight or early dawn, and even then with very low pressure. More concerning, there are instances where no water flows at all for up to two weeks,” he said in a statement.
He added that the problem affects not only Taman Vila Vista but also several other areas in Sandakan, linked to recurring pump issues at the Bukit Garam plant, which reportedly occur almost every month.
The prolonged water crisis has significantly impacted daily life, including personal hygiene, food preparation and basic household needs.
In some cases, residents have been forced to carry water manually using buckets, a method they describe as impractical and burdensome, especially for the elderly and low-income families.
He also noted that the water disruptions have repeatedly affected major celebrations such as Hari Raya, Christmas, and Chinese New Year over the past four years, as breakdowns and maintenance issues often coincide with festive periods.
Meanwhile, residents expressed appreciation to Sungai Manila assemblyman Datuk Hazem Musa for providing water tanks as temporary assistance. However, they stressed that such measures do not address the root cause of the problem.
They are urging Sabah Deputy Chief Minister I and Minister of Works and Utilities Datuk Seri Dr. Joachim Gunsalam, as well as Assistant Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Fairuz Renddan, to conduct a thorough investigation into the management and concession at the Bukit Garam Water Treatment Plant.
They also hope that Kinabatangan MP Datuk Naim Moktar will play a role in helping resolve the issue.
In addition, residents are calling for an urgent meeting with Sandakan Water Department Engineering Division officer TS Nelly Juee Philip, to seek a concrete solution after claiming the matter has not been resolved by previous technical officers.
“After five years of dealing with the same problem almost every month, we no longer want to hear technical explanations without a solution to the root cause,” Gary stressed.
Residents also alleged that several water supply interruptions occurred without prior notice, making it difficult for them to prepare in advance.
They hope immediate and effective action will be taken to ensure a stable and sufficient water supply for residents of Taman Vila Vista and the wider Sungai Manila area.
