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The Star
5 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Clean water now just a tap away for island community
SANDAKAN: Just a 10-minute boat ride from Sandakan, the small island of Pulau Berhala has finally received access to clean piped water for the first time. Home to around 3,000 residents, the largely Bajau fishing community had for generations relied on underground well water, which was often cloudy, salty and had to be boiled before use. Those who could afford it bought bottled mineral water for drinking while others simply made do. But that is now changing. A solar-powered nano-filtration system, the first of its kind in Sabah, is supplying the island with clean, treated water straight from the tap. 'We used well water for everything, from cooking to bathing, but had to buy bottled water for drinking,' said housewife Anna Robert, 25. 'If we didn't have money, we just drank the well water. Now, we can drink clean water straight from the tap. We're really grateful.' The RM1.3mil system was developed by Jetama Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sabah Development Bhd. It runs entirely on solar energy and filters groundwater to produce up to 45,000 litres of clean water daily, enough for 5,000 to 7,500 people, well beyond the island's population. Village chief Junior Jikirin said the new system had already transformed daily life. 'People here are happy and comfortable. It started running on July 19 and the water is clean like mineral water,' he said. Jetama Water executive director Liau Fui Fui said the project was designed specifically for remote communities like Pulau Berhala. 'This is a self-sustaining system that supplies clean water,' she said. 'We hope to install the remaining nine systems in areas that need them as soon as possible.' She added that the company evaluated various models before choosing a system from China for its cost-efficiency and suitability for rural maintenance. With the new solar filtration system installed and plans underway for solar-powered lighting in every home, residents say a long-awaited change has finally arrived. 'It might not seem like a big deal to others,' said Junior. 'But for us, it's life-changing.'
Daily Express
24-07-2025
- General
- Daily Express
RM1.3 million water system for Berhala folks
Published on: Thursday, July 24, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jul 24, 2025 By: Mardinah Jikur Text Size: Frankie, Fui Fui and Walter launching the system. SANDAKAN: Residents of Pulau Berhala now have access to clean water through the RM1.3 million Self-Powered and Mobile Drinking Water System implemented by Jetama Water Sdn Bhd. The system can cater to the needs of between 5,000 and 7,500 users, supplying each person with between four to six litres of clean water per day. This makes Pulau Berhala one of the first locations to receive the system out of 10 units implemented by Jetama Water Sdn Bhd throughout Sabah, particularly in remote and island areas where access and logistics pose significant challenges to clean water supply. The commissioning of the solar-powered drinking water system project was officiated by Tanjong Papat Assemblyman Datuk Frankie Poon Ming Fung in a ceremony held on the island Tuesday. Also present were Sandakan Municipal Council President Walter Kenson; Jetama Water Chairman and Tanjong Papat Constituency Secretary Liau Fui Fui; Jetama Water, Jetama Water Deputy Chairman Datuk Juhari Janan; the Jetama Water CEO, the Pulau Berhala Village Chief Junior Jikirin; and Tanjong Papat Community Development Leader Mohd Faried Ismail. Poon emphasised that every citizen, whether on the mainland or on remote islands such as Pulau Berhala, deserves access to adequate, safe and quality basic infrastructure. 'When I was informed by Jetama about the potential of this mobile drinking water system, I immediately worked to ensure Pulau Berhala was listed as one of the recipients,' he said, adding that the system has now been fully completed. He also acknowledged the collective effort of various parties that led to Pulau Berhala being selected, and expressed his appreciation to Jetama Water for their excellent cooperation in making the initiative a success. Although the main system is installed at Block A on the island, Poon said that, at his request, Jetama will also install additional water tanks at Blocks B and C to ensure more balanced and comprehensive water distribution across the entire community. He urged residents to take good care of the facilities provided. Meanwhile, Liau said the solar-powered water system project had been announced late last year and has now been completed and is fully operational. He expressed hope that the system would bring meaningful benefit to the island's residents. 'We felt compelled to install the system here after assessing the community's current needs. The remaining nine units have already been identified for other locations in Sabah,' he said. Juhari said the project reflects Jetama's ongoing commitment to providing access to clean water for communities in need throughout the State. Representing the residents, Junior expressed gratitude to Jetama Water and Poon for their efforts. 'Clean water supply is a vital necessity and will greatly benefit residents, especially the elderly, children and everyone living on this island,' he said. Pulau Berhala is home to over 3,000 residents, most of whom work as fishermen. Meanwhile, Walter said Pulau Berhala has tourism potential and urged residents to help preserve the island's natural beauty. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
