KOTA KINABALU: The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has told the opposition to stop politicising the water issue for their own gain.
“They should instead contribute meaningful and practical ideas to resolve the issue which affects every Sabahan. It requires action, not just talk,” party vice president David Ong said in a statement after visiting the Sabah Water Department (SWD) headquarters here recently.
The visit which was led by LDP president Datuk Chin Su Phin, was to relay public concerns and to gain firsthand insights into the challenges faced by SWD.
They were given a clear picture of the current water supply problems – including rising demand, aging infrastructure and illegal tapping.
Warisan had recently raised the water issue again – accusing the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS)-PH state government of failing to provide a clear roadmap to address the current water woes in the city where residents, businesses, hotels and others continued to suffer from water disruptions.
Its information chief Samuel Wong also claimed that the coalition government was becoming increasingly idle when it concerned solving water issues, especially in Kota Kinabalu.
“People are frustrated and feel hopeless because no one in the government is giving them a proper explanation,” Samuel said.
Meanwhile Ong said they were informed that the SWD was pushing ahead with several ongoing projects – most of which were scheduled for completion by the end of this year.
These new projects are expected to produce some 300 million llitres per day (MLD) of water, more than enough to cover the current shortage of 120 to 200 MLD, henceforth ensuring that Sabah’s water needs are adequately met.
Ong urged the SWD to expedite all ongoing water infrastructure projects so that the people could enjoy a stable and reliable water supply as soon as possible.
And, he also called on the department to improve its digital services to enhance efficiency and transparency.
“The department’s mobile app should be made more user-friendly to enable easier online billing and payment.
“And, all payment counters should transition to cashless transactions by January 1, 2026. Also, the operating hours should be extended to 5pm,” he said, adding that manual documentation for official receipts should also be eliminated and a fully digital system be implemented.
Ong also stressed the urgent need for the government to establish a 30-year masterplan for water security.
