KOTA KINABALU – A Warisan leader wants the Sabah authorities to explain why private companies are allowed to profit off the people’s misery during water supply disruptions by selling consumers treated water at a higher rate.
Warisan’s Datuk Junz Wong told The Vibes he suspects that the state’s Water Department and private suppliers are in cahoots over the pricing, after a recent letter from the Likas Women and Children’s Hospital revealed that the hospital was charged RM145,490.50 by a private company for water supply in June when there was a water cut.
Wong, who is Warisan vice-president, said the letter dated June 23 was from the hospital to state health executive councillor, Datuk James Ratib, which added to his suspicion that private companies are taking advantage of water supply disruptions to sell treated water at a more expensive rate.
The Sabah Water Supply Enactment 2003 allows the state water authority to issue licences to undertake water supply distribution. The same enactment also states that tariffs can only be set by the state water authority.
However, Wong said private sellers charging exorbitant tariffs has been the case in Kota Kinabalu for at least two months, with a condominium here purchasing water from a private company at ten times the price charged by the state water department (from RM1.14 to RM11.40 per cubic metre).
Wong added that there are reports of similar incidents in Tawau and Sandakan.
“The Sabah government and the Sabah Water Department must answer this question. Is the Sabah Water Department selling water to these private companies?
If this is not the case, then why is the Water Department not buying water from these private companies for the people’s use? Where did they (private companies) get this water from? Something smells fishy here,” Wong said.
‘Unprofessional’
Ratib has so far responded regarding the situation at the Likas hospital, accusing Warisan of misusing the letter for politicking as the party had posted the letter on its online bulletin.
Ratib, who is also Sabah community development minister, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has been working hard to solve the problem.
“(Warisan) is unprofessional…they should have met with me or the ministry if they want further explanation (on the issue),” he said, adding that action has been taken regarding water supply disruption at the Likas hospital.
Ratib also said he had proposed a special committee to identify problems related to water and electricity supply, which are also experienced by other hospitals in the state.
A matter for MACC?
No one from the state government, however, has reportedly responded to Wong’s concerns on how treated water can be obtained by private companies, which then hikes up rates for consumers.
Wong said he has asked the state government to explain the situation during state assembly sittings and through the press, but has yet to receive a response.
The sale of treated water by private companies at higher prices is beginning to impact operational costs, which will affect consumers, he added.
“I also know for a fact that the Lok Kawi Light Industrial Park, Kinarut, has been buying water from a private company, spiking the price it pays from RM1.60 to RM30 (per cubic metre).
“This (Lok Kawi) is where factories, and also a chicken farm, are. So imagine when their operational costs suffer from such a sudden hike?
Surely, the prices of their products will be increased, and the people, as consumers, will be the ones who suffer the price hike,” he said.
Since the state water department is responsible for ensuring supply, it should be bearing any extra costs if water has to be purchased from private companies, instead of burdening the people, Wong added.
He said Hajiji’s government must respond and explain the situation, or Warisan leaders will lodge a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
He said Warisan leaders are also studying legal grounds to sue the Water Department and the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah state government for financial losses incurred by Sabahans due to higher water tariffs.
‘Absurd’
Sandakan’s Elopura assemblyman Calvin Chong meanwhile, said that a private company also began selling water to residential areas after nine consecutive days of water cuts affecting the entire district.
The disruption was due to faulty water pumps at the Segaliud Water Treatment Plant.
Chong said the private company sold water by the tank, charging RM900 per water tanker truck (about 3,000 litres) to residential areas two days ago.
This is absurd. The people should not bear the cost of consequences from broken pumps; the Water Department should,” Chong told The Vibes.
In Tawau, Sri Tanjong assemblyman Justin Wong claimed to have encountered a similar incident, whereby water was sold yesterday at RM600 per tanker by a private company.
It was the second day of a water cut in his constituency, also due to a faulty pump.
Wong said he learned about the matter from Tawau Hospital personnel who received a phone call from the company when the hospital began to run out of water supply.
“The state Water Department must come with an explanation. Is this company under the Water Department?
“Why is it when even the Water Department has no water supply, this company appears to have water to sell?” Wong asked. – The Vibes, July 19, 2023
