Handling of water quality issues: Sandakan feels like a ‘second-class citizen’
Published on: Thursday, June 27, 2024
.jpg "Handling of water quality issues: Sandakan feels like a ‘second-class citizen’")
“If the tap water is safe to drink, the Government should transparently publish the TDS values for every area in Sandakan, allowing residents to feel assured about their drinking water,” Khoo said.
SANDAKAN: The State Government’s differing approaches in handling water quality issues across Sabah has left Sandakan feeling like a “second-class citizen” compared to Kota Kinabalu and Tawau, said the Sandakan Water Watch Station Committee.
Its Chairman Dato’ John Khoo said Sandakan has yet to receive a short-term solution to the brackish water problem and the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) levels in the tap water remained high.
ADVERTISEMENT
“If the tap water is safe to drink, the Government should transparently publish the TDS values for every area in Sandakan, allowing residents to feel assured about their drinking water,” he said.
He pointed out that the handling and response to the drinking water issue in Sandakan have been significantly delayed, with the brackish water problem persisting for nearly 18 months without solution.
“In contrast, Kota Kinabalu and Tawau have seen swift and effective responses to similar issues, with the Government taking proactive measures for investigation and resolution.
“Water quality is a crucial factor affecting residents’ quality of life and health. Recently, both Kota Kinabalu and Tawau experienced water quality issues.
ADVERTISEMENT
“However, the treatment and attention given by the Government to these issues differ markedly from Sandakan,” he said.
“Sandakan residents have had to deal with the brackish water issue for nearly 18 months, yet there has been no comprehensive solution or short-term relief from the State Government.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Residents have to collect water samples themselves and request testing from the Water Department, with no guarantee of results.
“This situation severely impacts residents’ quality of life and erodes their confidence in the Government,” said Khoo.
He provided examples, noting that water quality issues in Kota Kinabalu and Tawau were handled more swiftly and effectively.
In Kota Kinabalu, a peaceful petition by a group of students and water users from Universiti Malaysia Sabah garnered immediate attention from the State Government, which actively sought solutions.
“On June 20, the Kota Kinabalu Water Department’s technical team conducted a thorough inspection of the water treatment plant, main water pipes, reservoirs, supply pipes and water meters in the northern region.
“Official test results indicated that the output from the Telipok Water Treatment Plant No. 2 met established water quality standards.
“In Tawau, recent incidents of water odour and turbidity were swiftly addressed by the Water Department, which discovered the issues likely stemmed from the old and broken water supply system. The Tawau Health Department actively collected samples for water quality testing to identify the source of contamination,” he said.
He stressed that the State Government’s unequal treatment in addressing water quality issues across regions highlights differences in administrative efficiency and attention. The prolonged issue of brackish water in Sandakan underscores the Government’s shortcomings in basic infrastructure and unfair treatment.
To ensure all residents have access to safe drinking water, Khoo urged the State Government to conduct a comprehensive investigation into Sandakan’s water quality issues and implement effective short-term and long-term solutions.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
.jpg)
.jpg)
