Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal speaking to the media in Papar about the ongoing water crisis in Sabah.
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s water crisis has left communities struggling without enough supply for daily needs, including prayers and breaking fast.
Parti Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said immediate action is needed to ease the burden on the people as complaints come in from affected areas including Kudat, Sandakan and Semporna.
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The Semporna MP said families are forced to buy water, students have been sent home because of dry taps, and some residents have had no piped water for years.
The situation has raised urgent concerns about the government’s response to the ongoing shortages, he said on Tuesday (March 18).
"It is not just Pulau Bum Bum, where residents have to buy water from unknown sources. Even students at MRSM (Maktab Rendah Sains Mara) have complained to me.
"With Ramadan underway and Hari Raya approaching, it is worrying.
"It is not just about bathing – there is not even enough water for prayer ablutions," he told reporters after an iftar and contribution handover to asnaf recipients at Masjid Al-Muttaqeen Kelanahan in Papar.
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It was learned that MRSM Kota Kinabalu in Kinarut has been facing worsening water supply problems, struggling to maintain an adequate supply for students.
Pulau Bum-Bum in Semporna is also facing supply problems, with residents relying on rainwater, wells, or purchasing water from the mainland after the island's water pipeline fell into disrepair, with a 300-litre tank costing around RM35 to RM40.
With Aidilfitri approaching, families are struggling with the rising costs of buying water. Some residents said they had no access to piped water for the past four years.
ALSO READ: Sabah government urged to take water crisis seriously before Aidilfitri
Shafie stressed that water is a basic necessity and the authorities must act now before the situation worsens.
"This is not a luxury, it is a fundamental need.
"People cannot cook, cannot bathe, cannot pray – this is a failure that cannot be ignored any longer," he added.
