No point setting up water commission, says Sabah DAP

KOTA KINABALU – Sabah DAP has questioned the state government’s plan to establish a water commission to solve the state’s increasing water supply problem.

Party secretary Chan Foong Hin said he does not understand the purpose of setting up a water commission when water production in Sabah is already privatised, supervised, and controlled by the Water Department.  

Water production in Sabah was privatised in 1990, with three major concessionaires involved to produce treated water: Corporate Dynamics (Kota Kinabalu), Timatch (Sandakan and Tawau), and Lahad Datu Water Supply (Lahad Datu, Kunak). 

“The components down the supply chain that were not privatised are distribution of treated water and (monitoring of) water losses from distribution line; these are still under the direct purview of the water department. 

“How could privatisation of these parts reduce non-revenue water (NRW) when it is a profit- driven model?” he questioned.  

NRW is water that has been produced but “lost” before it reaches the customer, such as through burst pipes or water theft. 

The Kota Kinabalu MP was reacting to Works Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin’s proposal to establish a water commission to minimise water problems in Sabah.  

As such, Chan said that Bung Moktar should focus on reducing the NRW instead.  

“Illegal squatters are mushrooming, and they contribute to the increase of NRW. Resolve this problem first before talking about privatisation,” he said.  

He said the state government currently has substantial debts with the water production concessionaires and the state government could get financial assistance from the federal government to take over the water concessionaires and its assets.  

Chan said that Penang has proven that privatisation is not the only way to solve the water management issues, as the state’s corporate body, Penang Water Supply Corporation, has been very successful in managing water supply in its state. 

“Penang is able to maintain a reasonable water tariff and minimum NRW,” he said. – The Vibes, January 28, 2021