VILLAGERS in Kampung Paris, a remote settlement located about 56 kilometres from the district town, are calling on the newly elected representative to address a long-standing lack of clean water that continues to disrupt daily life.
Residents say they remain trapped in harsh conditions, relying largely on rainwater harvesting as their main source of water for cooking, washing and other household needs.
The village’s ageing piping system, they added, is no longer functional, leaving Kampung Paris and surrounding areas without access to treated water enjoyed by other communities in the district.
Food trader Noraini Jamal, 23, said the problem has dragged on for years without a permanent solution, severely affecting residents’ quality of life.
“We are facing a shortage of water and this issue has continued until now. We depend only on rainwater, apart from water from a nearby pond using the help of a pump,” she told Bernama.
Another resident, Normansah Hussin, 33, echoed the call for urgent intervention, saying the water supply issue must be addressed alongside improvements to basic road infrastructure in the village and neighbouring areas.
The Barisan Nasional candidate for the Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election, Mohd Kurniawan Naim Moktar, 32, acknowledged that clean water shortages were among the key concerns raised by villagers during his campaign visits.
The Kinabatangan UMNO Youth chief, better known as Naim Moktar, said the issue was not new and had previously been raised in Parliament by his late father, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.
Mohd Kurniawan Naim pledged to continue pressing for a solution and said he would ensure the matter is resolved promptly if given a mandate as the area’s representative in the Jan 24 by-election.
The Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election is a three-cornered contest involving Mohd Kurniawan Naim representing Barisan Nasional, Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman of Warisan and independent candidate Goldam Hamid.
In the Lamag state seat, the contest is a straight fight between Mohd Ismail Ayob of BN and Mazliwati Abdul Malek of Warisan.
The by-elections were called following the death of the incumbent for both seats, Bung Moktar, 66, on Dec 5. Polling day has been set for Jan 24, with early voting scheduled for Jan 20. - January 14, 2026
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