KOTA KINABALU – Sepanggar MP Mustapha Sakmud has urged the Sabah Water Department (JANS) to take drastic action in dealing with the water crisis that has gone on for a long time in his constituency.
The deputy human resources minister said that, as such, the Telibong Dua Water Treatment Plant project in Tuaran needs to be completed immediately.
“This is no longer a typical water supply issue but a crisis. More than 300,000 Sepanggar residents depend on the effectiveness of JANS to solve this problem.
“The federal government had stated its preparedness to help the state government solve the infrastructure and water issues in the state, especially in terms of providing allocation,” he said in a statement today.
Commenting on a poster, which has gone viral, urging residents to gather at the JANS office here today, Mustapha urged the residents to raise water issues by using the correct channel.
“I suggest that those who want to stage a demonstration negotiate properly with JANS and listen to the briefing on the water issue in their respective areas,” he added.
A Bernama survey at the JANS office found no gathering had taken place.
Meanwhile, Mustapha said they are waiting for a call for a meeting from the Kota Kinabalu City Hall to find the best way to resolve the issue of squatters in the Sepanggar area, which was also linked to previous water theft activities.
“A new mechanism needs to be found and studied to resolve the issue of squatters in the Sepanggar parliamentary constituency by taking into account the humanitarian aspect without neglecting the interests of the people of Sepanggar in general,” he said. – Bernama, March 27, 2023
