Federal funds to fix Sabah water woes could be in soft loan: Shahelmey

KOTA KINABALU – Questions have been raised on whether the RM320.25 million federal allocation to deploy a short-term fix to the water woes in Sabah would be in the form of a grant or soft loan.

Sabah Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Shahelmey Yahya, who is also in charge of the state Public Works Ministry, noted that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had said that it could be in the form of soft loan with minimal interest.

“In the first meeting, the honourable prime minister has hinted that the funds would be in the form of a soft loan at a very minimal cost and possibly with zero interest,” he said during the question and answer session during the state assembly session which started today.

Shahelmey was responding to an additional question posed from Datuk Darell Leiking (Moyog-Warisan) who wanted to know whether the allocation would be in the form of loan and would add to the state’s existing debts.

Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor had announced following a meeting with the Anwar on June 1 that Putrajaya had allocated RM320.25 million to address Sabah’s water issues.

The funds will be used for six short-term measures, encompassing 20 projects in districts including Kota Kinabalu, Tuaran, Putatan, Papar, Beaufort, Keningau, Tawau, Lahad Datu, and Sandakan, he said.

Shahelmey noted the state government has given its assurance to implement eight initiatives under the short-term fix at a cost of RM185 million. 

He has, however, reiterated that Putrajaya has yet to channel the allocation.

He said the eight initiatives have been approved by a federal-state technical committee following a state cabinet decision.

Earlier, appointed assemblyman Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee had requested the state government to expedite the implementation of the short-term measures.

On another note, Shahelmey said the state Public Works Ministry has halted the services of all private tankers after it found excessive charging for transporting water two weeks ago.

However, he said charges will be imposed directly by the state Water Department if the government decides to engage with the private transporters in the future.

This means that the private transporters will no longer be allowed to resell the treated water, he said.

Shahelmey was responding to questions posed by Datuk Junz Wong (Tg Aru-Warisan). – The Vibes, August 8, 2023