Quality water supply should never be compromised: SAPP

KOTA KINABALU - The Sabah government has taken drastic action in the Sabah Water Department but the entire process has not taken into consideration on how it might affect the daily life of the people.

Sabah Progressive Party Deputy President Datuk Richard Yong We Kong said the government terminated 58 water treatment plant concessionaires on 15 January this year, which seems to have disrupted the consistency of water supply, even the water quality seems to have degraded.

He said the government must always "People First".  Any action for whatever reason, must not jeopardise the people’s interest.

He was referring to a publication in a local newspaper stating some 243 homes in The Borneo Beach Villas and Sabah Beach Villas had suffered shortage of water supply since 2 Feb.

“Another complaint was also received from the residents of Melinsung Summer Bay Resort Apartment, that the entire residential area had been cut off with water supply since 3 days ago (22 Feb).

”The residences there have to depend on water supplied by tankers to meet their daily needs.

Yong said he even learned there were a few cases of typhoid fever positive in Kudat last Friday (22 Feb). It is reasonable to suspect that this may be related to the quality of water.

“The state government must rectify the water supply problem immediately. Any delay will only extend the people's suffering."

He said for whatever reason, water supply and its quality must never be compromised, because this will lead to various health crisis, including cholera, typhoid or other epidemics. Lifes could be jeopardized.