KOTA KINABALU: The worsening water crisis impacting thousands in Sandakan could soon be alleviated if Timatch Group and the Sabah Water Department act quickly, says Sabah Minister for Community Development and People's Wellbeing Datuk James Ratib.
During his visit to the Bandar Leila booster pump in Sandakan on Monday (Feb 24), James urged both parties to fulfil their responsibilities. He stated that the government had fulfilled its role and that further delays would only exacerbate the situation.
“If Timatch Group and the Sabah Water Department don’t cooperate, this will become a huge problem. The people will suffer, and the government will be blamed,” he said.
He said there are two solutions to resolving the crisis. First, the Sabah Water Department must activate ten newly identified boreholes, which he said should already be operational.
Once functional, the boreholes would improve supply to affected areas.
He pointed out that engineers had confirmed each borehole could be completed in one to two months, adding: “That is not a long time.”
He said the second solution was for Timatch Group to immediately increase production at the Kinabatangan Water Treatment Plant by at least five million litres per day (MLD), allowing the Sibuga Water Treatment Plant to receive a sufficient supply.
James added that Timatch Group and the Sabah Water Department must implement the solutions immediately.
Karamunting assemblyman Datuk George Hiew Vun Zin, who accompanied James during the visit, said the situation had become critical since last year.
In January, some parts of Sandakan suffered a total water cut for nearly three weeks, prompting emergency government intervention.
“We have engaged with the Sabah Water Department and the Infrastructure Development Ministry since last October.
"When the issue worsened in January, I pushed for Cabinet intervention, and James, being from Sandakan, helped raise the issue,” he said.
Hiew acknowledged that while there had been some improvements - with the water supply in affected areas increasing by about 30% - the crisis was far from over.
However, he believed the issue could be resolved soon.
