Warisan lodges report amid claims of ‘profiteering’ in water crisis

KOTA KINABALU: A report on alleged profiteering by private water supply companies in Sabah has been lodged with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in Putrajaya.

Two Parti Warisan leaders – Datuk Junz Wong and Datuk Aziz Jamman – made the report, asking graft busters to look into the severe hike in prices of water, which is sold at exorbitant prices to consumers with dry taps.

“Something is not right, someone is taking advantage or prolonging the water crisis in Sabah to exploit the situation,” Aziz, the party’s information chief claimed after lodging the report with vice president Wong in Putrajaya on Thursday (Jul 27).

He said they also provided details of the cost of water to MACC to investigate the “unusually” high prices sold to consumers by private water companies who collected it in tankers from Sabah Water Department depots.

“We have been seeing abnormal hikes in prices of water sold via water tankers to consumers over the last three months.

“There’s something really not right. Is someone taking advantage of it or allowing the crisis to continue? It is best for the commission to get to the bottom of it,” he said.

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The two have pointed at a recent controversy over the cost of water supplied to the Sabah Women and Children Hospital here at a cost of RM145,000 for 23 days while the annual cost of water in 2022 was RM230,000.

They said that not only the hospital but hotels and apartment management companies have also been raising concerns over the prices.

Their report comes a day after state Works Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya said that the state government would investigate reports of companies making excessive profits, charging up to nearly 10 times the regular rate for water supply in the areas.

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Shahelmey, who is Deputy Chief Minister III, said that water was sold at RM3 per cubic metre but some private companies have been selling it for up to RM28 per cubic metre.

He said it was not illegal to buy and sell water, especially during emergencies but the state would find a way to control the prices.

Responding to Shahelmey’s statement, Wong said it was puzzling how the water department could probe these companies when they themselves sell water to the public.

“The question remains – who will probe these water tanker companies? Who gives them the power to sell water? Who sets the pricing? and who is making all the lucrative profits?,” he said, adding that it was best for MACC to investigate.