SANDAKAN: The prolonged and recurring water supply disruptions in the Sandakan district have reached a critical level, severely impacting the daily lives of tens of thousands of residents, local businesses, and residential premises, particularly high-rise properties (flats, apartments, and condominiums).
Central Committee Member and Sandakan Zone Coordinator for Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri, Madam Chen Li Foon, expressed deep concern and regret over the authorities’ failure to comprehensively address this basic water supply crisis.
As a native of Sandakan who also operates a business locally, Madam Chen stated that dry taps, extremely low water pressure, and unannounced supply cuts have become an agonizing “daily routine” for the people.
“The residents of Sandakan have run out of patience. We are not just talking about landed housing estates—high-rise residences are now facing an extremely severe water crisis. Extremely low main water pressure from the Sabah State Water Department (JANS) prevents underground suction tanks at apartments from refilling. When these tanks run dry, building pump systems must be shut down to prevent damage, leaving thousands of high-rise residents completely without water,” said Madam Chen.
She added that the issue stems from a combination of persistent infrastructure shortcomings, including high rates of Non-Revenue Water (NRW) due to aging pipe leaks, illegal connections, as well as pump and operational failures at major Water Treatment Plants (WTP), such as WTP Segaliud.
In light of this, Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri urges the Sabah Minister of Works, YB Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Joachim Gunsalam, to take immediate action and pay urgent, special attention to the Sandakan water crisis.
Madam Chen put forward three (3) main demands on behalf of the residents of Sandakan:
Emergency Action & Immediate Maintenance Plan: “The Sabah Ministry of Works and JANS must immediately repair main pipelines and frequently malfunctioning water treatment plants, while progressively raising water pressure to high-density and high-rise residential areas.”
Provision of Additional Water Tanker Trucks: The Sabah Water Department must increase its fleet of water tankers to ensure efficient, scheduled deliveries to severely affected high-rise residences and housing estates while long-term solutions are being implemented.
Transparent Long-Term Transformation Plan: She urges the Ministry of Works to prepare a transparent long-term transformation plan following mitigation efforts in Sandakan. Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri expects the ministry to announce a comprehensive action plan with a clear timeline regarding the replacement of aging pipes and capacity upgrades for water treatment plants, so the public knows exactly when this crisis will be fully resolved.
“Access to water is a basic human right. The hardship of Sandakan residents carrying water buckets daily and local businesses suffering losses cannot be ignored any longer. We urge YB Datuk Dr. Joachim Gunsalam to visit the ground, witness the suffering of Sandakan residents firsthand, and immediately allocate funding and concrete solutions,” emphasized Chen Li Foon.
