Sabah water woes: RM320m aid from Federal

Published on: Sunday, April 14, 2024

By: Hayati Dzulkifli

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ON the current water and electricity problems in Sabah, which appear to be the main factor that could discourage investors, Masidi said the State Government has taken various initiatives in solving the water and electricity supply problems faced by the State.

In order to overcome water supply issue in Sabah, he said a short-term plan as announced by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, the Federal Government agreed to channel RM320 million to the Sabah Government to help expedite the implementation of a short-term plan to solve the water supply issue in the State.

“The short-term measure is currently being implemented and coordinated by the State Government through the Sabah State Water Department and the Federal Government.

“As announced by the Prime Minister, the Federal Government agreed to channel RM320 million to the Sabah Government as aid to speed up the implementation of a short-term plan to solve the water supply issue in the State.

“Such amount involved implementation of six programs covering 20 projects throughout the State, including nine projects under district plan for Kota Kinabalu, Tuaran, Putatan, Papar, Beaufort, Keningau, Tawau, Lahad Datu and Sandakan.

“This year, RM100 million has been provided under the federal loan to cover projects under the aid. However, allocations will only be channelled in phases after the agreement is signed,” Masidi said.

In addition to implementing immediate and short-term to address the water woes, he said medium-term and long term are also made through allocations from the State Government as well as from the Federal Government.

As for the issue of electricity supply, Masidi said with the establishment of the Sabah Energy Commission (ECoS) on Jan 10, 2023, the State Government has successfully taken over the regulatory power of gas supply from the Federal Government with the enforcement of the Gas Supply Enactment 2023 and the Sabah Energy Commission Enactment 2023.

Following this, he said the State Government has taken over the power to regulate electricity supply from the Federal Government on Jan 3, 2024 through a Special sitting of the State Legislative Assembly.

“Two new Bills namely the Sabah State Electricity Supply Bill 2024 and the Sabah State Renewable Energy Bill 2024, as well as amending the Sabah Energy Commission Enactment 2023 were approved in the State Legislative Assembly.

“In line with the approval of the two Bills, the State Government through ECoS as the Statutory Body of the State Government has the authority to regulate electricity supply activities in Sabah.

“We hope that with this effort, the State Government will be able to make a more organised plan and be able to overcome the problem of electricity supply services in Sabah for the sake of the development and economy of the State,” he said.