Time to end Sandakan’s water supply disruptions once and for all

SANDAKAN – It is time to solve the water supply disruption in Sandakan once and for all as its people has been inconvenienced for too long.

Sandakan MP Vivian Wong said the district has been facing the problem for many years, and it has gotten worse in the past few weeks as water pressure has been low.

“The recent low pressure was caused by emergency repairs on a water pump at the Segaliud Water Treatment Plant, which caused a 35 % reduction in daily water supply in the district.

Repair work is expected to be completed latest by Friday this week.

However, Wong also discovered that the Sandakan district has been highly dependent on this one pump, while the other two pumps are hardly used and so old that they are barely functional.

“We have to stop the continuous water disruptions in Sandakan. I was told by Sabah Water Department (Sandakan) engineer Richard Lee that the state government had last year approved funding for the replacement of pump number three, which is scheduled to arrive from Japan in June this year. 

“The department has also applied for further funding under the 12th Malaysia Plan to replace the two other pumps so that the plant can operate with three new pumps soon.  

“I will monitor the progress closely to ensure that the people of Sandakan will no longer face water supply problems,” she said.  

Wong said the Works Ministry must be responsible for the matter.  

“I urge the Works Ministry and its minister (Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin) to look into this problem. 

The frontliners in the water department have been receiving negative remarks and complaints from the citizens, but there is not much they can do.

“As much as they want to serve the people, there is nothing they can do if the pumps and machineries are old and faulty.

“Funds have to be allocated to fix this matter once and for all,” said Wong. –The Vibes, January 4, 2021.