TAMBUNAN: The Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS) is called upon to promptly address the issue of a broken water pump that has been out of service for six years, adversely affecting the rice fields in Kampung Kiawayan and nearby villages.
The Coordinator of the Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (PGRS) for Tambunan, Dato’ Victor P. Paut, stated that the malfunctioning water pump has hindered the supply of water to the affected rice fields, leading to detrimental effects on the residents’ rice crops, especially during the current hot and dry weather.
He added that this issue is not limited to the aforementioned village but also impacts the rice fields in Kampung Masak and Kampung Silat, affecting over 600 farmers.
“This problem has persisted for six years and it is far too long to be left unresolved by the responsible authorities.
“We can see the condition of the fields, which are cracked and dry due to the lack of water supply, resulting in the destruction of the rice crops.
“Therefore, I hope the relevant authorities, particularly JPS, will take immediate action to identify the cause of the pump failure and ensure that this irrigation system is restored to functionality,” he said while inspecting the rice fields in Kampung Kiawayan here (9 Sept).
Victor, who is also the Deputy Chairman of Sawit Kinabalu and Borneo Samudera, mentioned that the affected rice fields are estimated to exceed 200 acres and serve as the primary source of income for the residents who rely on rice cultivation.
He noted that he has already contacted the Director of JPS District Tambunan yesterday and was informed that the district engineer will visit the site to assess and identify the issue.
“I hope this matter does not end with just an inspection; rather, immediate follow-up actions must be taken because the farmers here cannot continue to wait,” he added.
