KOTA KINABALU: The success of the Federal Government's RM4bil allocation for rural water projects hinges on efficiency, transparency, and prioritisation of the most affected communities.
National Consumer Foundation Malaysia (YPNM) Sabah Chapter chairman David Chan welcomes the allocation for projects across Sabah, saying that the projects would help overcome Sabah’s long-standing water woes.
“We cannot afford further delays as rural households have relied on supply and untreated water sources for decades,” he said on Friday (April 17).
Chan said this in response to allocations announced by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, adding that projects must be implemented efficiently and without further delays to restore public confidence.
“There must be transparency and accountability with strict monitoring mechanisms in place to ensure public funds are used responsibly,” he said, adding that projects must ensure high-quality standards are maintained to guarantee long-term reliability of water infrastructure.
“Priority should be given to the most affected rural communities, particularly those in interior and remote regions,” he added.
Chan said clean water is not a privilege but a basic right, and urged the Sabah government, which has been empowered to oversee implementation to speed up delivery and improve coordination.
