State govt urged to improve Sabah Water Department

 By Olivia Miwil - November 18, 2021 @ 5:04pm

Former Chief Minister Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee said the never ending water supply problems in populated areas of Sabah, including Kota Kinabalu City, was becoming a major issue. -NSTP file pic

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government should take action to rectify the state Water Department's poor performance.

Former Chief Minister Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee said the never ending water supply problems in populated areas of Sabah, including Kota Kinabalu City, was becoming a major issue.

He said it deserved the immediate attention and action of the Sabah government's top leaders.

Recently, a footage of a furious woman from University Utama Condominium known as Ruby Rj went viral as she was still being charged by the management for the water bill despite the residents facing water woes for almost six months.

Most of the netizens shared her sentiments as water and electricity disruptions happened often all over Sabah.

"Water is a daily necessity for survival, hygiene and health. The lack of water is becoming a major issue and is seriously impacting more and more people.

"I call on the Sabah government to do something about the water supply disruptions, put only the best and qualified officers and engineers to be in charge of the Water Department, pump in more funds for repairs and maintenance and minimise Non-Revenue Water (NRW) caused by broken pipes," he said in a statement.

Yong said it was unacceptable that the Sabah Water Department needed several weeks to repair water pumps at the Telibong Water Treatment Plant near here.

He said such a response reflected poor management and lack of maintenance of the water pumps.

"How can the Water Department wait for the pumps to break down first and then call for repairs?

"This is negligence and a failure to provide uninterrupted water supply. This poor attitude by the department is like waiting for a car to break down in the middle of the road before sending it for routine maintenance.

"Luckily, the Water Department is not running airports and airlines, as planes are absolutely not allowed to break down in mid-air," said Yong, who is also Sabah Progressive Party president.