KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government has ordered assistance for Tawau residents facing water supply disruptions caused by a dry spell over the past month.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor directed the state Ministry of Public Works and Utilities to ensure the Sabah State Water Department increased water tanking operations to affected housing areas.
The directive follows a state Cabinet meeting last week where the crisis was brought to the government's attention by Sabah Youth Development, Sports Advancement, and Creative Economy Minister Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan.
Nizam, who is also the Apas assemblyman in Tawau, said action was necessary as raw water sources in the district continue to dry up due to insufficient rainfall.
"Water is a basic necessity, and these disruptions directly impact households' daily lives," said Nizam in a statement on Monday (Oct 29).
According to the latest report from the Water Department in Tawau, operations at the Northern Water Treatment Plant (WTP) remain compromised due to low water levels and raw water quality issues at Sungai Tawau. While there has been light rainfall in the catchment area, it has not been enough to restore river levels for full treatment operations.
Deputy Chief Minister and State Works Minister Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam gave his assurance during the Cabinet meeting that the Water Department management is closely monitoring the situation and deploying all available assets to assist affected households.
Nizam added that while technical monitoring of raw water quality continues to ensure safety standards, water tankers remain the most immediate solution.
"The immediate focus is to ease the burden on residents while we wait for raw water sources to replenish and treatment plants to return to full operational capacity," he said.
