Villagers in Sabah fed up with lack of water

KOTA KINABALU: For years, some 5,000 residents of Kampung Tinusa 2 on the suburbs of Sandakan in Sabah’s east coast have been bugged by water shortages.

The last straw came recently, however, when the residents experienced dry taps during Hari Raya Aidilfitri, which they had been looking forward to celebrating with family and friends.

“This cannot go on – we need solutions, not promises,” said villager Jefry Ambo, who was seen holding placards along with other residents at a protest yesterday to appeal to the federal and state governments to take concrete steps to resolve the problem.

“We have made suggestion after suggestion on possible ways to solve our problem, but nothing has been done so far,” he added.

Kampung Tinusa 2 village head Norsidi Lumby said the gathering was to remind the authorities of the basic need of the villagers, who only ask for a consistent water supply.

Another resident, Ashmar Labadu, who has been living in the area for more than 20 years, said the water problem had worsened over the last five to six years.

“We should be celebrating Hari Raya happily, but this did not happen,” he said.