KOTA KINABALU – The RM200 million federal loan for Sabah to resolve its water supply issues should be a grant, said Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau as he slammed state agencies over their lack of transparency.
Tangau, who is also Upko president, said this after visiting affected residents at Telipok UUC near Tuaran.
He said RM2.2 billion under the 12th Malaysia Plan has been alloted for Sabah’s development, including the RM200 million.
But this would be in the form of borrowing, he said, urging for more transparency from the state Water Department and residential management corporations, as well as the Sepanggar and Tuaran residents’ understanding over the water issue.
“I have fought for this in Parliament as water supply must be consistent, and the high non-revenue water (NRW) in the state can be reduced.
“Why give Sabah (RM200 million) in the form of borrowing, why not in the form of a grant? The people still need to pay back the federal government, seeing it is a loan, while water is a basic necessity.”
Tangau said water supply is a state matter and right, not a federal one, although it still holds a shared responsibility with the state.
Earlier, he said Sabah is facing an acute water shortage with an average NRW rate of 52%.
He said the privately-run local water treatment plant, Telibong 1, has an output of 164 million litres per day (MLD), but only 85 MLD reaches the masses – forcing the Water Department to carry out water rationing.
He said the department paid for 80 MLD despite losing water due to broken distribution pipelines.
Tangau said the completion of Telibong 2 would deal with the shortage problem later, but the NRW problem still needs resolving.
Meanwhile, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, who was recently in Melaka for the election, has apologised to Sepanggar folk over the incessant water supply disruptions via his Facebook page. – The Vibes, November 22, 2021
