KOTA KINABALU: The establishment of the Sabah Water Services Commission (SWSC) should be expedited, as the formation of the Sabah Water Resources Council has shown little significant progress and appears to serve primarily political purposes, said Sabah UMNO Election Director Jeffery Nor Mohamed.
He stressed that the commission’s primary role would include overseeing water services in Sabah, which would ultimately enhance the image of water services in the state.
“Amendments to the Sabah Water Enactment must be made promptly in the State Assembly to facilitate the establishment of the commission,” he said in a statement today.
To address water issues, Jeffery noted that the Sabah State Water Department (JANS) requires billions of ringgit to replace and upgrade the water supply system, including outdated pipelines and problematic water treatment plants.
JANS is the only water utility in Malaysia that remains a state department, managing its own water supply without direct assistance from any external parties, he added.
He pointed out that financial management for improving treated water sources must reach a sustainable level; otherwise, the current situation, which is unacceptable to the people of Sabah, will remain stagnant.
“We hope that the forthcoming water commission will provide a platform to explore how direct assistance can be obtained from the federal government or through other phased approaches, addressing issues based on priority needs.
“Given the high costs associated with enhancing the water supply system in Sabah, we must think outside the box,” he said.
