Latest news with #SabahWaterDepartment
Borneo Post
21-07-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Overhaul pipelines to resolve Sabah's water woes - expert
Amarjit Singh KOTA KINABALU (July 21): Sabah's chronic water supply problems are unlikely to be resolved unless the state urgently replaces its ageing pipeline network, despite millions being spent on new treatment plants, says a water expert. Former Sabah Water Department director Datuk Amarjit Singh warned that the core issue lies not in production capacity, but in the state's deteriorating water distribution system. Most of Sabah's pipelines, many made of asbestos cement and decades old, can no longer handle the increased volumes produced by upgraded treatment facilities. 'The problem will remain as long as the pipes are not replaced to match the upgraded plant capacity,' he said in a statement today. 'You can treat five million litres a day, but if the pipes can't deliver it, people still won't get water.' Amarjit, a water engineer by training, was responding to Deputy Chief Minister and Works Minister Datuk Ir Shahelmey Yahya's remarks regarding continued supply disruptions in Putatan and Kota Kinabalu, even though the new Kasigui treatment plant in Penampang is already producing treated water. Shahelmey recently expressed frustration over the issue, noting that the plant, which has a capacity of five million litres per day, is only producing three to four million litres due to distribution limitations. Amarjit also referred to Shahelmey's statement in the Sabah Legislative Assembly last week that approximately 1,200 kilometres of old pipelines would be replaced in phases. Contractors have been appointed since last year to repair damaged pipes in critical areas including Sandakan, Keningau and Kota Kinabalu. The replacement works are being carried out alongside major water supply initiatives under the Fifth Rolling Plan of the 12th Malaysia Plan. These include 18 projects on the West Coast, 15 in the interior, 12 in Tawau, five in Sandakan and two in Kudat. In preparation for the 13th Malaysia Plan, the state is also conducting district-level water supply studies to support short-, medium- and long-term master plans. These will contribute to a broader state Water Grid strategy aimed at ensuring stable and sustainable access to treated water across Sabah. Additional proposals have been submitted to the federal Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation. They include resolving long-standing shortages in Tawau and Sandakan, reducing non-revenue water losses in Keningau and Beaufort, replacing ageing pipelines in urban and suburban areas, and constructing pre-sedimentation tanks at 22 treatment plants statewide. Three new rural water supply projects in Kinabatangan, Beluran and Pitas have also been approved under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry. Shahelmey acknowledged legal and regulatory hurdles, noting that under the Water Supply Enactment 2003 (Amendment 2022), the Water Department (JANS) is only authorised to supply treated water to registered consumers. However, JANS is open to supporting other agencies undertaking alternative supply solutions. Amarjit stressed that unless there is a comprehensive and timely overhaul of the entire pipeline infrastructure, Sabah's water delivery problems — both in urban centres and rural communities — will continue. 'You can't push more water through brittle, undersized and leaking pipes and expect consistent supply,' he said. In September 2023, Putrajaya approved a RM300 million soft loan to Sabah for short-term water crisis fixes. An additional RM6 million has been allocated to address water supply issues at Universiti Malaysia Sabah — RM3 million from the Prime Minister, RM2 million from the Higher Education Minister, and RM1 million recently announced by the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister. Between 2001 and 2014, the federal government spent RM11.115 billion on infrastructure in Sabah, including RM4 billion on water-related projects. Recently, former Chief Minister Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee proposed that the Sabah Water Department be dissolved and replaced with a professional statutory body to manage the state's water supply.
Borneo Post
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Replace Water Department with new professional water body - Yong
Yong Teck Lee KOTA KINABALU (July 19): Former Chief Minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee has called for the total replacement of the entire Sabah Water Department with a new Sabah water statutory body. He said it has become necessary because it has become increasingly evident that the basic cause of the water supply problems in Sabah is the Sabah Water Department itself. 'Sabah has ample water resources, from our rivers, from rain and even the sea. Over the decades, billions have been spent on water supply. We even have a Sabah Water Supply Enactment 2003 that confers extensive powers to this important government department. Yet, we have been unable to solve this most basic utility called water that is needed for daily livelihood,' he said in a statement on Saturday. Yong said at a pre-council session of Sabah assemblypersons in April 2023 the Chief Minister (who chaired the meeting) was visibly upset about the perennial water supply problems. The current Minister of Public Works had just been appointed to the portfolio. 'At that pre-council meeting, I said that the minister should not rely on the Sabah Water Department for solutions because the problem is the Sabah Water Department. The minister and the Chief Minister must look and search beyond the Water Department for solutions because there are viable and cost-effective solutions. 'The Chief Minister sounded stressed by the stubborn persistence of water supply problems. I don't know whether my voice was heard or whether my views were heeded. I have done my research. As a successful plaintiff in the Water Department case of 2019, I have done extensive research on the notorious Water Department and its decades of failures. It is really getting ridiculous when the minister himself had to instruct (as reported) the Water Department to investigate why, even after the new Kasigui water treatment plant with an additional five million litres per day, there is still a shortfall in water supply in Putatan and Kota Kinabalu. 'The Water Department then found that the problem was the distribution network. First of all, the Water Department need not have waited for ministerial instructions before taking action. Secondly, the distribution and pipes problems have been known for many years. The Water Department was not formed yesterday. The Sabah Water Supply Enactment 2023 was enacted 22 years, that is one generation of Sabahans ago!' he said. Moving forward, Yong said the replacement of the Water Department will involve an amendment to the Water Supply Enactment 2003 by the dissolution of the Water Department and reconstitute a professional body. 'There are many good, conscientious professional water engineers and administrators in Sabah who can do a much better job than the Water Department. The new water supply statutory body can be led by tough professionals and with proven administrators who come with a mission and passion to finally solve Sabah's water supply problems. The ball is now in the court of the Sabah Government,' he added.
Daily Express
17-07-2025
- General
- Daily Express
Kuala Penyu villagers dismiss Limus' claim of no water issues
Published on: Thursday, July 17, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jul 17, 2025 By: Ahmad Apong Text Size: Banner showing the villagers' frustration. KUALA PENYU: Residents in several areas of Kuala Penyu, including Bukit Nuri Menumbok, have voiced growing frustration over the persistent clean water supply issues, blaming the Sabah Water Department for its failure to deliver consistent access. Moha Lee Fin, a local resident, told Daily Express that water is only available a few times a week and not on a daily basis as it should be. Advertisement 'We are not ungrateful, but water is a basic necessity that should be supplied every day,' she said on Tuesday. Moha also dismissed recent claims made by the area's assemblyman and Assistant Minister of Works, Datuk Limus Jury, who stated that there have been no water supply issues in Kuala Penyu since Ramadan. 'That statement is completely out of touch with reality. Many villages are still without consistent water supply,' she stressed, adding that some villages like Kampung Kiaru and Sawangan have reportedly been without piped water since 2016. 'Sometimes the water that comes out is murky, like Milo. This is unacceptable,' she said. She raised concerns about emergency situations, such as when water is needed to bathe the deceased. 'Tank water alone isn't sufficient for a whole week's use,' she added. 'The problem also affects schoolchildren, who are forced to bathe using bottled water, and mothers with newborn babies. How are they expected to care for their infants without clean water?' she asked. Moha also pointed out that there is a large water tank and pump in her village, but it doesn't function and serves no purpose beyond being a 'decorative structure'. Another resident, Eya Dien, acknowledged that a RM70 million water pipeline project is currently underway but said uncertainty remains about when it will be completed. 'There is a water pump in Kampung Bukit Nuri, and we hope the project won't be abandoned. Hopefully, this will finally resolve the water crisis in Menumbok,' she said. However, Eya voiced concern that the project might end up being another white elephant, with large pipes, pumps, and tanks in place but no actual water reaching homes. She warned of the danger this poses in emergencies. 'What if there's a fire and the fire brigade can't use the hydrant because there's no water? This is something the government must seriously consider,' she urged. * 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
Daily Express
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Additional RM1 million to address UMS water problem
Published on: Tuesday, July 15, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 15, 2025 Text Size: There will also be the installation of an underground water tank with an additional capacity of 0.13 million litres to boost the water supply. Kota Kinabalu: The Federal Government has committed another RM1 million for a short-term intervention plan to reduce water supply disruptions at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS). Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof made the announcement during his visit to the varsity, Monday. Advertisement The Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister added that the allocation for the plan under his Ministry would be implemented in collaboration with the Ministry, the Sabah Water Department and UMS. It would include the construction of a dedicated distribution pipeline to connect UMS's existing underground water source. There will also be the installation of an underground water tank with an additional capacity of 0.13 million litres to boost the water supply. Apart from that, automated modulating valves will be installed to stabilise water levels in UMS's service tanks. 'It is expected to directly benefit more than 3,000 students, especially those residing in Tun Mustapha Residential College and Tun Fuad Residential College, who are frequently affected by water supply disruptions. 'To ensure adequate water pressure to student housing areas, the Sabah Water Department will also install in-line booster pumps from the service tanks to both residential colleges, using the existing bypass pipeline built by UMS.' The intervention works are expected to take one month and will contribute to the improvement of UMS's water supply system operations. Present during the inspection were Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir and UMS vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Kasim Mansor. In May 2023, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had announced an allocation of RM3 million to solve UMS's water problems; the following year, Zambry also added another RM2 million for the varsity. Despite the allocations, thousands of students are still struggling with the same issues, which prompted some of them to stage protests against the government. The Sabah Government had said the causes of disruption included ongoing construction of treatment plants and their structures, damage and water theft. * 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
The Star
14-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
RM1mil intervention plan to ease UMS water woes
KOTA KINABALU: The federal government has allocated RM1mil for an intervention plan to alleviate serious water supply issues in Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS). This comes after Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof visited the campus during a one-day working visit here on Monday (July 14). ALSO READ: UMS water supply stabilised after resolution of misunderstanding with Sabah Water Department Fadillah, who is also Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, said this is a short-term plan to address the problem and is expected to benefit over 3,000 students, especially those living in the Tun Mustapha and Tun Fuad hostels. He said the plan involves the construction of a specific distribution channel connecting the underground water supply system developed by UMS, among other things. ALSO READ: Sabah Water Dept's claim of enough supply misleading, says UMS VC It also involves adding underground water tanks for a 130,000-litre additional capacity, and installing automated modulating valves to stabilise water levels in the UMS service tanks, he added. 'To ensure sufficient water pressure to student hostels, the Water Supply Department is providing in-line booster pumps and service tanks to UMS, using the existing bypass pipes built by UMS,' he said. ALSO READ: UMS student group urges legal action over water issues He said the intervention works would take about a month to complete. Fadillah thanked the Federal Government, the Higher Education Ministry, the Water Supply Department, Sabah Water Department, and other technical agencies for implementing the intervention plan.
