KOTA KINABALU: With more than RM700mil already allocated by Putrajaya, Sabah has no reason to delay projects to ease water woes in the state.
The projects also need to be rushed because a serious water shortage could be on the cards, with the Malaysian Meteorological Department predicting the hot spell in the state to continue until June, said Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Datuk Michael Lui.
He welcomed the latest funding from the Federal Government – an additional RM100mil approved by the Economy Ministry on Wednesday – to resolve water supply issue in Sabah.
Lui said that together with previous allocations such as the approval of a RM300mil soft loan last year, as well as RM200mil for four new projects and RM163.55mil for water connections allocated under the Fourth Rolling Plan of the 12th Malaysia plan, the total funding given to Sabah was well over RM700mil.
“Hence, the people of Sabah hope the government can quickly resolve water shortage.”Lui urged the state to use the funds to replace pumps in water treatment plants.
He said serious attention must also be given to losses through non-revenue water and water theft.
