KOTA KINABALU – Unlike Warisan, the current Gabungan Rakyat Sabah government will not cancel any proposals by the previous government, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin (Lamag-BN).
Despite the plan to build a dam in Papar being first proposed by Warisan when it was running the Sabah government, Bung said the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah-Barisan Nasional state government now has decided to proceed with the plan.
“We don’t care who proposes it, we will support and continue it if it is good because we are working for the people.
“We are not like a certain party, cancelling everything that the previous government (BN) had planned, including the Pan Borneo Highway project, burdening the people,” he said.
Bung, who is also state works minister, said the Papar dam is part of the ministry’s efforts to increase water supply efficiency in Sabah, which is currently in poor condition due to old pipe systems and river pollution.
He said this at the state assembly sitting here today when answering Phoong Jin Zhe (Luyang-DAP), who questioned the state government’s action to solve the water disruption problem on Sabah’s west coast.
Bung said the ministry had conducted meetings three times through the Sabah Water Department, involving engineers and experts in the field, to discuss how the state would solve the water supply problem.
“We have acquired detailed information from these meetings. The water supply problem is not only on Sabah’s west coast, but involves the whole state.
“We have conducted two studies, and the cabinet has approved the appointment of a certified consultant to head the study to reform Sabah’s water services industry,” he said.
Bung said the studies so far revealed that out of the 88 water treatment plants in Sabah, 22 are not functional anymore because of water pollution, as the plants are flooded every time it rains.
“Sabah also records the highest non-revenue water percentage at 65%, because the pipes here were built during British times.
“We need RM27 billion for our water supply to function perfectly,” he said, while he invited representatives with suggestions to solve the problem to see him.
“But we will try our best. I believe that the Water Department under my ministry will be able to provide water service for all Sabahans to enjoy soon,” he added. – The Vibes, July 19, 2022
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