Frustration boils over in Sandakan as salty water stirs health fears

SANDAKAN – About 30 local residents gathered in front of the Sandakan Water Department’s office to voice their frustration over the prolonged problem of salty water supply and frequent disruptions.

One of the residents, Jafar Mustafah, claimed to have been diagnosed with high blood pressure and now relies on medicine daily.

“The doctor told me that this could be due to the salty water that I have been drinking every day.

“Salt is not the only problem – since the water treatment plant is not filtering the water properly, other residues such as sand could also contaminate our water supply.

“That is why our water appears muddy. I know of people who have suffered other health problems such as diarrhoea, fatigue, and skin irritation,” he said during the gathering yesterday.

Jafar also questioned why the water department still collects fees when they have failed to provide a clean water supply.

For the past three months, most areas of Sandakan have been experiencing water disruption problems almost every week – with even two to three days going by in a week with no water supply.

Since December last year, people in Sandakan have complained of very salty water in the water supply.

The Water Department explained that the problem stemmed from irresponsible fishermen who had damaged parts of the river gate at Sg Segaliud, causing seawater to enter the water supply intake at the Segaliud water treatment plant.

The department also said parts to repair the river gate will arrive in Sandakan this month.

Four of Sandakan’s assemblymen including Warisan’s Calvin Chong (Elopura), Alias Sani (Sekong), Arunarnsin Taib (Gum Gum), and Umno’s Mokran Ingkat (Sg Manila) were also present at the gathering before they submitted a memorandum to the Water Department.

Chong said that the reps had gathered not for political purposes, but to stand up for about 500,000 Sandakan residents who have suffered from dirty, salty water, and frequent water disruptions.

“It has also affected businesses here – car wash, salons, and restaurants,” he added.

Chong said the memorandum submitted to the department demands that the government or the department come up with a clear explanation of the water crisis, as well as announce a solution to solve the problem immediately.

“It has been three months. It takes about three months for the whole water reservoir to turn salty, and we have been using the water for another three. 

“This means that the problem started six months ago! Why is it not solved until today?

“The government should really be embarrassed about this,” he said, adding that over 200 residents have signed the memorandum submitted to the department.

Chong said that he expects the department to respond to the memorandum tomorrow, as the reps cannot wait for the matter to be raised at the Sabah Legislative Assembly, which has been delayed to April this year.

Other reps present also demanded quick action from the government to solve the problem.

Tremendous inconveniences, bodily problems

According to Alias, he had received complaints from people who are experiencing skin irritation problems in the past few months.

“Not only that, two days ago, there was a family in Taman Seaview that could not clean the body of their deceased family member for the burial process because there was no water supply.

“Is this Sabah Maju Jaya? People cannot even clean the body of a deceased to be buried?” he said when met by reporters here.

Alias stressed that the government is the trustee of the people’s affairs and has full access to, and is responsible for the people’s basic facilities, including water supply.

Meanwhile, Mokran said that long-term intake of salty water can be detrimental to the kidneys, while Arunarnsin said that pregnant mothers now have to drink mineral water to avoid health problems.

Water disruption problems are not new and we have raised this repeatedly at the Sabah assembly for years – it is still not solved.

“Hence, we, several YBs, are gathered here today to appeal to the government to act now before the people’s health is affected,” Arunarnsin said.

Meanwhile, Sandakan Indian Association President Taren Sunil Manoharan urged the relevant authorities to seek expert medical advice on the effect of salty water on people’s health.

He said he had received complaints from locals that they have been getting rashes and suffering from skin irritations ever since they noticed that pipe water in Sandakan has turned salty.

“Many have resorted to buying mineral water, but that is not always an option for those facing financial constraints.”

Earlier this week, Sandakan MP Vivian Wong demanded that Sabah Water Department director Baharuhom K.K. Sogon be sacked from his position for failing to solve the water problem here.

Wong also said Sandakan’s residents should be provided with six months of water bill rebates to compensate for their suffering thus far. – The Vibes, March 4, 2023