Proof of water supply sabotage
Published on: Saturday, June 15, 2024
By: Ricardo Unto
Shahelmey and Fairus at the protest site.
Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Public Works Ministry suspects some acts of sabotage to the water supply distribution line in Sepanggar, said Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Shahelmey Yahya.
He said the Ministry discovered recently that some valves had been tampered with.
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“We have made a police report and are investigating the matter…no ordinary people can tamper the valves,” he said when met on the side-line of the #KamiMahuAir Sabah demonstration, here, Friday.
Shahelmey said the alleged sabotage is one of the main challenges to supplying water in the Sepanggar area, aside from the Water Department’s transmission line constantly being illegally tapped by squatters.
“With the completion of the Telibong 2 Phase 2 water plant, besides the main pipeline not being laid, we should have experienced extra water in the system.
“However, what we have experienced now is some disruptions.
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“But we are working very hard to stabilise the water supply and to ensure that adequate water is supplied to the locals within the said area,” he said.
On the demonstration, Shahelmey described it as politically motivated.
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“I think the water supply demand is only an excuse for them to hold a demonstration as some of the statements said during the event were politically motivated.”
He said he was supposed to represent Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and receive the memorandum to be handed over by the demonstrators.
“However, I was informed by the police that they (demonstrators) refused to submit the memorandum to me and would only hand it over to the Chief Minister.
“I am just an ordinary citizen and listen to their voices.
“But it seems they do not respect the people who want to listen to their voices.
“They are more keen to play their antics, or game, and get media coverage,” he said.
Shahelmey reiterated that the Sabah Water Department is working hard to stabilise the State’s water supply through various initiatives.
“It needs a reasonable amount of time to be implemented. Hence, we need the cooperation of all parties,” he said.
Assistant Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Fairuz Renddan was also present.
Meanwhile, participants of the #KamiMahuAir (We Want Water) demonstration opted for a sit-in in front of Menara Kinabalu after their intention to submit a memorandum to Hajiji was not met.
They insisted on personally handing over the memorandum to Hajiji. However, he was not in the office.
The memorandum includes the demands that the authorities ensure the water needs of the people in Sabah are adequately met without any excuses.
#KamiMahuAir Sabah Secretariat Coordinator Mohammad Norhamdin Nordin said they may wait for the Chief Minister overnight in front of Menara Kinabalu.
“We are only practising democracy in the country under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution – the right to assemble and speak,” he said.
“If we fail to hand over the memorandum today (Friday), we will continue to wait until tomorrow morning.”
He also refuted claims that the event was politically motivated.
“There is no political involvement in this gathering – only students and the public.
“Nobody joined the gathering under a political party’s flag, but they come under the people’s capacity,” he said.
About 80 people, mostly Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) undergraduates, participated in the gathering.
The assembly was also monitored by representatives from the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) and a group of lawyers.
Norhamdin also said they planned to expand the movement statewide.
Previously, he was reported as saying that the assembly aimed to highlight the water issues faced by the people in Sabah rather than only focusing on the water problems in UMS.
UMS Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Datuk Dr Kasim Mansor discouraged UMS students from joining the demonstration.
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