Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Plumber Association Advisor Carl Moosom said Sabah must step up efforts to expand its pool of engineers and skilled workers to address the State’s water infrastructure needs.
“The most urgent priority right now is to improve our human capital to specifically tackle the non-revenue water issue and establish a clear target to overcome the chronic treated water accessibility crisis faced by rural communities,” he said.
Carl said this during Plenary Session I of the Plumbing Asia 2026 Conference and Expo at the Sabah International Convention Centre, recently. The session focused on water infrastructure for Sabah’s development.
The Plumbing Asia 2026 Conference and Expo, themed “Smart Water, Strong Nation, Sustainable Asian Future”, is organised by the Sabah Plumber Association and Koperasi Persatuan Tukang Paip Sabah Berhad in collaboration with the Sabah Water Department and the Kadazandusun Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
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“The need for more engineers and skilled workers should be our key solution to kickstart whatever transformation we want to achieve, especially in water infrastructure development in Sabah,” he said.
He pointed out two key areas requiring attention, namely near-term technical solutions and the planning of long-term megaprojects involving sewage treatment plants, water collection systems and new water sources.
On the technical side, Carl highlighted the need to replace ageing pipes, particularly sewage lines.
“Some treated water reaching households is showing signs of wear and tear,” he said.
“That is why industry players, especially in the high-end technology sector, are supplying purified water systems for household use.
“This is one area the industry hopes to see improved as Sabah moves forward in an era of advancing technology,” he said.
Turning to rural communities, Carl acknowledged ongoing government efforts and expressed hope that gravity-fed water supply systems could eventually be upgraded to better reflect current capabilities.
He noted that companies from China and other Asean nations had been invited to the conference to share their success stories, adding that their proven track records could serve as useful references for Sabah.
“I see no reason why we should not adopt their ideas,” he said, adding that the forum provided an ideal platform to raise awareness and chart a better path forward for all stakeholders.
Carl also stressed the need for more engineers and technologists to support not only the government but also agencies dealing with issues such as non-revenue water and pipe leakages in the field.
On the role of industry players and technology, he called for a three-pronged approach involving technology adoption, industry cooperation and professional training, building on points raised by fellow speakers during the session.
“Progress requires close coordination between the government, private sector and industry professionals as a shared responsibility, rather than one resting on any single party,” he said.
He added that any technology introduced should align with the Sabah Maju Jaya 2.0 blueprint and be carefully assessed for its environmental impact under the Blue Economy framework.
