Yayasan Petronas, Taylor's University deliver clean water to Kota Belud villagers

Shariah Nelly (ninth from left) with invited guests as well as representatives from Taylor's University and Hopes Malaysia during the project's handing over on May 22.
KOTA KINABALU (June 4): Access to clean water has become a reality for the villagers of Kampung Tinata Ulu in Kota Belud, after the successful completion of a gravity-fed water supply and rainwater harvesting system supported by Yayasan Petronas and implemented by Taylor's University.
Located about 80 km from here, the village had relied since 2010 on an outdated gravity water supply system that could not support both household and farming needs.
However, this is now a thing of the past for the community of over 200 villagers, who are looking forward to a better life ahead.
Chief Executive Officer of Yayasan Petronas, Shariah Nelly Francis, said, 'Access to clean water has long been a critical need for this community. It is our hope that the completion of this project will make a meaningful difference in the lives of the community here.'
Village Development and Security Committee chairman for Kampung Tinata, Hadlee Panchai, said 'The new water supply system has changed our lives for the better. We used to hold gotong-royong every week just to repair the pipes, which disrupted the villagers' daily efforts to earn a living. We are grateful for this
contribution.'
The newly installed system includes a four-kilometre gravity-fed water pipeline and central storage tanks, with a total capacity of 3,600 gallons (13,630 litres).
In addition to providing a reliable water supply, the 18-month project, which saw Taylor's University collaborate with Sabah-based non-governmental organisation Hopes Malaysia, introduced sustainable farming practices and shared relevant skills to the residents, to enable them to manage the system independently over the long term.
The villagers adopted a hands-on approach in assembling the gravity-fed water system at the main water source and installing rainwater harvesting in their homes upon receiving training from Hopes Malaysia.
The initiative is part of Yayasan Petronas' Memampankan Ekonomi Asas Rakyat (MEKAR) programme, which aims to empower communities by addressing basic needs and offering skills and entrepreneurship development training to villagers.
This marks Yayasan Petronas' second clean water supply project in Sabah under the MEKAR programme following a 2022 initiative in Pitas that benefited 200 families across five villages. In 2017,
Petronas also provided gravity-fed water supply solutions to Kampung Patiu, Kampung Katud and
Kampung Pulutan in Kota Marudu.

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