More than RM10bil needed to address Sabah’s water woes, says Shahelmey

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah needs more than RM10bil to effectively resolve its water woes, says Datuk Shahelmey Yahya.

The Deputy Chief Minister III said the state government had briefed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at a meeting in Putrajaya on June 1 that this would involve a long-term plan to address the water supply issues in Sabah.

He said this would entail efforts to replace old pipes, build new water treatment plants as well as dams.

“But the cost will reach over RM10bil, it is a big sum of money,” he said, when replying to a supplementary question by Datuk Darell Leiking (Parti Warisan-Moyog) at the state assembly sitting here on Tuesday (Aug 8).

“The Prime Minister has taken note of this and recommended that a special committee look into how to implement the proposals (to address the water supply issue),” he added.

Leiking had earlier asked whether the RM320.25mil allocation from the Federal Government to Sabah was meant as a one-off grant or soft loan.

The state Works Minister said the premier had hinted that it would be a soft loan.

“But it would be at a very minimal cost and maybe at zero interest,” he said, adding the funds would be used to finance short-term initiatives to remedy the water situation.

Replying to an earlier question by nominated assemblyman Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, Shahelmey however said that the allocation has yet to be channelled to the state.

“As such, following a meeting on July 26, the state Cabinet has agreed for an allocation from the state government will be utilised first for the implementation of the (short term) water projects.

“Besides that, the Sabah Water Department has started a working paper on the project pre-implementation as preparation to carry out the projects as soon as the approved funds are disbursed,” he said.

Shahelmey explained that the state government had proposed 20 projects to be undertaken as part of the short term plan to resolve the water woes with costs involving over RM300mil.

He said the special technical committee on the Sabah water supply issue meeting had only approved eight out of the 20 projects applied for, with a cost of RM185mil.

The remaining projects were not approved by the technical committee as they involved maintenance and operational activities under the 12th Malaysia Plan (2021-2025) guideline.

“But the technical committee understands the state’s intentions for all the 20 short term projects to be approved as they were inter-connected.

“As such, a special task force on the Kelantan and Sabah water supply issue had a meeting on June 21 at the federal Economic Affairs Ministry to discuss on the direction, financing methods and projects implementation recommended by the Sabah government,” Shahelmey said.