Eyes on Sandakan shops for profiteering attempts over salty tap water problem

Azdy checking the prices of bottled drinking water at a shop in Sandakan.

KOTA KINABALU: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry is monitoring stores in Sandakan for profiteering by selling bottled drinking water at higher prices.

This followed the rising demand for bottled drinking water due to salty water supply in the Sabah east coast district.

The Ministry's Sandakan office chief Azdy Zukkry John said they have already issued notices to two business outlets in Sandakan on May 10 for suspected profiteering.

It was understood the shops allegedly sold a carton of 12 bottles of drinking water at around RM13. The normal price for a carton, which is not a controlled item, was between RM8.50 and RM9.

ALSO READ: Sandakan's 'saline on tap' spikes demand for bottled water

“We received complaints from the public and immediately checked the premises before issuing the notices,” he said when contacted on Wednesday (May 17).

“We served the notices under Section 21 of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.

“The shop operators must provide their financial documents so we can check whether there was an increased profit on their sale of bottled drinking water,” he added.

It was reported that supermarkets were beginning to limit the sale of bottled water to customers in Sandakan amid high demand as consumers complain they have been getting "saline solution" from their taps since late October.

It was also said local stores have often run out of bottled water stocks since then, with local residents believing people were buying in bulk in case supplies really dwindled.

Some 300,000 consumers have resorted to using bottled water for their cooking and drinking since last October after a river gate broke down and seawater entered the Segaliud treatment plant.

ALSO READ: Measures taken to reduce Sandakan's salty tap water problem, says Shahelmey

On Monday (May 17), Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya said measures were ongoing to resolve the salty water supply issue in Sandakan.

Shahelmey, who is also state Works Minister, said that among the measures was to dilute the high chloride content in treated water at the Segaliud plant.

He said the plant operator had also added a pump at the plant to fill the dam.

Azdy said monitoring would continue and the ministry was keeping tabs on several other outlets suspected of profiteering.

“The public is urged to contact the nearest ministry office if they find traders hiking the prices of bottled drinking water or essential items,” he said.

Anyone with information on such incidents can inform the ministry via WhatsApp at 019-279 4317 or 019-848 8000, or online through e-aduan.kpdnhep.gov.my.

They can also call 1-800-886-800 or email [e-mail] and the Enforcement Command Centre at 03-8882 6088/6245.