KOTA KINABALU: Static water tanks have been deployed to squatter areas here to curb illegal tapping that has disrupted supply to thousands of homes.
State Works Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya said the effort, including in Kampung Brunei, near here, is part of a broader move to stabilise water distribution, particularly in neighbourhoods frequently affected by leaks and drops in pressure.
“We found several unauthorised connections in these areas, which not only reduce downstream pressure but also compromise the integrity of the pipelines. To minimise theft, we are supplying static tanks,” he said during the Putatan Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house on Sunday (April 20).
However, he said the effort faced land issues midway through implementation, which they are working to resolve before continuing the project.
Shahelmey, who is also Deputy Chief Minister, stressed that the water provided was not free.
“These people need water, and not all of them are undocumented migrants. Many locals live there too, although I cannot estimate the numbers. But of course, water should be chargeable, not free,” he said, when asked why the government was supplying water instead of demolishing the squatter colonies.
He acknowledged that water disruptions have been a growing concern, including one that affected the State Legislative Assembly building on Wednesday (April 16), while the sitting was in progress.
“The recent disruption was caused by a burst 1,000mm main pipe in Tuaran. It was repaired in under two days, and water began refilling the K1 main storage tank by Thursday morning (April 17).
“However, once the K1 tank reached a good level, we detected another leak along the pipeline at Kampung Brunei, Sepanggar. This pipe sends water from K1 to the R13 tank at UMS.
“The leak, caused by an illegal connection, was repaired on Thursday. By early Friday (April 18), the R13 tank was back to over three metres and could resume distribution to users.”
Some areas, including Alam Mesra, faced further delays due to air trapped in the pipes.
“We had to get the Water Department to flush the pipes to remove trapped air,” he said.
Shahelmey said areas like Kampung Likas still suffer from low water pressure, often due to blockages caused by illegal connections.
He added that although land issues have delayed some response efforts, overall improvement is expected once infrastructure upgrades are completed.
“Once the new transmission pipe from Telibong II is ready, and integrated with Telibong I, water production will reach its optimal level. For now, production is still limited to around 100–105 million litres daily. Based on my last site visit in March, I am confident the project will be completed by the end of June,” he said.
Separately, Shahelmey said he will co-chair a meeting with Federal Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi to address challenges in Phase 1B of the Pan Borneo Highway Sabah project.
“We want to avoid the delays that plagued Phase 1A, especially in terms of technical design, utility relocation, and land acquisition.”
He said land acquisition is currently slowed by manpower shortages in the valuation and land agencies.
However, the relevant departments have been instructed to boost manpower by any means.
“If that happens, it will speed up land valuation and acquisition processes.
“My biggest concern remains utility relocation, which is often delayed by internal procedures and budget issues. That is why we hold monthly meetings, to address problems early and keep the project on track,” he noted.
