KOTA KINABALU – Sabah Works Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya said he welcomed Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) launching a probe into alleged profiteering among water transporters in the state.
In response to a report filed by Sabah opposition leaders with the MACC, accusing corruption within the Sabah Water Department, Shahelmey stated his readiness to cooperate with the authorities.
The Sabah Water Department comes under the State Works Ministry.
“I welcome the MACC to probe into the matter,” Shahelmey replied briefly via WhatsApp.
Yesterday, Warisan information chief Datuk Azis Jamman and vice president Datuk Junz Wong submitted a report to the MACC in Putrajaya, alleging possible corruption linked to the transportation and profiteering from the sale of treated water while consumers faced water cuts.
Both leaders said they believed private water transporters and the department, which falls under Shahelmey’s responsibility, were collaborating on the matter.
Sabah has been conducting water rationing exercises since May, resulting in scheduled water cuts across the state due to water consumption exceeding production.
Earlier, Shahelmey had noted the existence of profiteering practices among the private water transporters, where certain companies were allegedly inflating prices for their own gains.
The incidents took Shahelmey by surprise. He revealed that the transporters were charging consumers between RM14 and RM28 per cubic metre, whereas the Sabah Water Department Depot was only charging RM3 per cubic meter to the transporters. – The Vibes, July 28, 2023
