SANDAKAN: The State Government is urged to increase transparency and technical accountability in the planning of Sabah’s water infrastructure, specifically regarding Non-Revenue Water (NRW) data and the Ulu Padas Water Supply Scheme Project.
Tanjung Papat Assemblyman Alex Thien said data accuracy and clear information disclosure are crucial, given that water supply security issues heavily impact the people and the State’s development.
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He questioned reports claiming that Sabah loses approximately 7,195 million litres per day (MLD) due to NRW, as the figure appears inconsistent with the State’s total treated water production capacity, which is estimated to be around 1,500 MLD.
According to him, from a technical perspective, NRW refers to the loss of treated water within the distribution system, and its volume cannot exceed the actual water production capacity.
Therefore, any reported figures must be accompanied by an explanation of the calculation methods and the units of measurement used.
Alex also urged the Government to detail the technical basis of the Ulu Padas Water Supply Scheme Project, including the data sources supporting claims of the Padas River’s potential flow of 6,000 MLD.
He said that to date, no hydrological reports or technical documents have been publicly published to clarify whether that figure refers to the average river flow, maximum flow, or sustainable long-term water intake capacity.
He also questioned whether factors such as dry seasons, climate change, the El Niño phenomenon, river siltation and ecological flow requirements have been taken into account in the project’s planning.
Furthermore, Alex said the public has a right to know whether feasibility studies, hydraulic analyses, environmental impact assessments and independent technical reviews have been conducted and disclosed to the public.
According to him, multi-billion ringgit projects utilising public funds must undergo a transparent review process and involve stakeholder participation before any decisions are made.
He also called for a more in-depth evaluation of the proposed water treatment plant construction in Beaufort and the approximately 200-kilometre pipeline to Kota Kinabalu, considering it involves high operation and maintenance costs.
At the same time, he suggested that alternatives such as a coastal reservoir system near Kota Kinabalu should also be considered, as it has the potential to reduce energy costs, transmission distances and long-term operational risks.
Alex stressed that the people of Sabah are not against development, but want every water infrastructure project to be implemented based on scientific evidence, sound technical assessments, transparency and accountability before large amounts of public funds are approved.
