Malaysia

Sabah election: Warisan vows to end water woes within a year if returned to power

Shafie said Sabah was not short of natural water resources but crippled by poor distribution and treatment capacity.

Updated 1 year ago · Published on 09 Oct 2025 9:04AM

Sabah election: Warisan vows to end water woes within a year if returned to power
Shafie said resolving water supply would be the first step before tackling other long-standing issues. - October 9, 2025

by Jason Santos

WARISAN president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal has vowed to end Sabah’s long-standing water crisis within a year if his party returns to power.

Shafie said Sabah was not short of natural water resources but crippled by poor distribution and treatment capacity.

“I give you my word — if Warisan forms the government, we will fix Sabah’s water problem within a year.

“The issue is not the lack of water itself but treatment and distribution. Leaking pipes, insufficient plants, and tankers profiteering while taps stay dry must be put to an end,” he told reporters at Warisan’s headquarters in Kota Kinabalu.

Water is one of Sabah’s political descriptions of the “Penyakit Tiga Serangkai” (three-in-one disease) problem. The other two are bad roads and electricity disruptions.

He said resolving water supply would be the first step before tackling other long-standing issues.

“What matters is delivery. Once a promise is made, it must be carried out,” Shafie said.

Shafie also maintained that Warisan would contest the state election independently in response to Star president Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan suggestion that he was open to working with other parties including Warisan.

Jeffrey made the statement following Star’s expulsion from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah last week.

Shafie also maintained that the only pact Warisan will form is with “the people” while saying that forming a pact with other political groups would be a waste of time.

“Our partnership is with the people of Sabah, not with political parties. It is not Star, GRS or anyone else who will decide who governs. That decision belongs to the people,”said Shafie, adding that it was not impossible for Sabah to return to the days when the state came under a single-party reign. - October 9, 2025

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