KOTA KINABALU – Nine individuals among the approximately 50 protesters lamenting water problems in Sabah outside the Sabah Chief Minister’s office yesterday did not have MyKad.
Confirming this, Kota Kinabalu police chief Kasim Muda said the nine individuals were detained and taken to the police station after their identification documents were checked yesterday.
Kasim, however, did not specify the time of the detention.
The peaceful demonstration was organised by Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) students, who named themselves “Suara Mahasiswa”.
The protest was also joined by two other non-governmental organisations as well as a community group from the Kinarut Ria People’s Housing Project apartment.
They demanded to meet Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor in person to submit a six-point memorandum demanding the Sabah government address the statewide water supply problem immediately.
It was learned that the group did not get to meet Hajiji in person but had stayed overnight at the Sabah State Administrative Centre compound.
They left at about 7am today.
Sabah Deputy Chief Minister and Works Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya who was present at yesterday’s demonstration explained that the frequent water disruption in the Sepanggar area, where the UMS campus is located, was mainly caused by constant water theft by nearby squatter colonies.
“The main challenge to supplying water to the Sepanggar area is that our main transmission line is constantly being tapped illegally by illegal squatters,” he said.
“It was shocking that the protest was also joined by those without self-identification documents when part of the water supply problem in Sabah is caused by water tapping by undocumented migrants living in ‘illegal’ squatter settlements,” he added.
As of March this year, Sabah’s non-revenue water rate is at about 50%, mainly due to old popes and water theft.
Meanwhile, Shahelmey said the Sabah Water Department, which is under the purview of his ministry, suspected acts of sabotage when they discovered that pipes and valves supplying water to UMS were tempered.
He said the department has lodged a police report, and the investigation is ongoing.
“Because with the completion of the Telibong II Water Treatment Plant (in Tamparuli), we should have an increase in water supply in the system. But now we are experiencing some disruptions.
“However, we are trying very hard to stabilise the water supply to ensure that adequate water supply can be supplied to all consumers within this area (Sepanggar),” he said.
The Telibong II water treatment is said to have a water supply capacity of 80 million litres per day to accommodate the needs of northern Kota Kinabalu and Tuaran.
In addition, Shahelmey said the construction of a dam in Tawau and a water treatment plant in Lahad Datu are ongoing, while repairs are ongoing in Sandakan to improve the water supply in the area.
“When we talk about water supply, it is not that we speak today, and tomorrow it will be completed.
“It takes a reasonable amount of time to be implemented. Hence, we need the cooperation of all parties – officers in the Water Department as well as the rakyat – to support our efforts,” he added. – June 15, 2024