KOTA KINABALU : – Warisan president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal has promised a complete restructuring of the Sabah Water Department.
He cited years of mismanagement, leakage problems and untreated water sources that have left many Sabahans without reliable supply.
Speaking at an event to welcome 1,500 new members, Shafie said the reforms would prioritise “no nonsense, no corruption” policies.
He said that only competent and proven companies will be contracted to supply and treat water.
He cited examples from Tawau where treatment plants exist but cannot operate effectively because rivers are clogged with rubbish and waste.
Shafie proposed cleaning and widening dams, deepening reservoirs and repairing leaking pipes to increase water storage and distribution efficiency.
“It’s not just about having water but how we distribute it. I don’t want hotels to have water while the rakyat don’t. That’s not good policy,” he said.
Shafie compared Sabah’s 3 million population to Kuala Lumpur’s 10 million, noting that the capital has managed to avoid chronic water problems despite higher demand.
“If KL can do it, why can’t we? We must learn from their systems and fix ours,” he stressed.
He said his plan would involve both political leaders and civil servants with strict oversight on procurement and project execution to ensure long-term sustainability in water and electricity supply for the state.