KOTA KINABALU – A Sabah civil society leader alleged retaliatory actions are behind the acute water supply that has been affecting some 5,000 residents of an apartment area in Sepanggar near here since February.
Pertubuhan Kebajikan Ekonomi Semangat Bersatu Malaysia (Pembela) leader Datuk Seri Mohammad Jeffry Rosman said in a press conference today that residents at the Universiti Apartment (UA1) would “strangely” get their water supply whenever politicians visit them. “I believe there is some kind of ‘game’ being played here.”
Some 5,000 residents in 1,124 apartment units had raised a fuss over the water supply issue before Chinese New Year in February.
Several complaints were lodged, prompting several politicians to visit the site – including state Works Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin – and yet the matter remained unresolved.
Jeffry alleged that the water supply was restored momentarily during Bung Moktar’s visit on March 14, but disrupted moments after he left.
He also alleged that the same thing happened with Sepanggar MP Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman, who also visited the area.
The Pembela president said the Sabah Water Department claimed the problem was caused by the contractor at the nearby Telibong water treatment plant and the ongoing road upgrading works.
However, he rubbished these explanations, saying the department should have contingency plans when such problems arise.
“The department should have contingency plans. But the only solution it had was seeking public aid to supply it with a lorry to transport water from another residential area.
“They had tried to reroute the water supply from a nearby residential area, but the residents there started complaining about the water disruption,” Jeffry said, adding the department attempted to ration water at one point but was unsuccessful.
He said the water ration was carried out between 9am and 6pm – but seeing how most residents were at work, they were unable to store enough water for daily use.
“The matter has been going on for months and yet to be resolved. Water is an essential utility.”
Jeffrey said that Pembela wrote to Putrajaya seeking a solution to the issue, including immediate funds to ensure the water supply is restored to the affected area. – The Vibes, March 30, 2021
