Solving sabah's water woe in stages
Published on: Sunday, June 22, 2025
Published on: Sun, Jun 22, 2025
By: Ricardo Unto Text Size: Shahelmey inspects repair works on a leaking pipe. SABAH's effort to overcome its longstanding water supply problem is progressing in phases under a strategy that targets meeting statewide demand until at least 2050, according to Deputy Chief Minister cum State Works Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya. He said the Sabah Water Department (JANS) has laid out short-, medium- and long-term action plans to resolve the issue progressively, adding that the entire effort requires substantial funding. 'The solution to Sabah's water supply issue is an ongoing process that requires significant financial resources,' he said, stressing the phased approach is necessary to ensure sustainability and resilience in infrastructure. Shahelmey said the treated water shortage is unlikely to be significantly reduced until several major long-term water supply projects are completed, to ensure consistent supply beyond 2050. He acknowledged public frustration over water and road issues but cautioned against turning dissatisfaction with essential services into a political tool ahead of the State election expected this year. 'Dissatisfaction with services related to public needs should not be used as a political benchmark,' he said, noting that public infrastructure projects are executed continuously for the people's welfare.
Advertisement He added that it remains the duty of each implementing agency to resolve issues concerning public amenities such as water and roads in a systematic and sustained manner. Shahelmey identified two major factors contributing to Sabah's water supply challenges – a growing demand that exceeds production capacity and high levels of non-revenue water (NRW) caused by leakage and illegal tapping. 'The water shortage and insufficiency in Sabah are mainly due to two factors: demand exceeding the current production capacity and high levels of non-revenue water across the State,' he said. He said JANS is tackling the problem through the construction of new water treatment plants (WTPs), upgrades to existing facilities, active pipe leak detection and repair, and the replacement of ageing pipelines. He added that illegal connections are also being targeted through enforcement operations, especially in high-activity areas where such cases are prevalent. The department is also engaged in the selective replacement of old and vulnerable pipelines based on urgency and area-specific needs, he said. Five major water projects are currently underway involving four WTPs and one dam, aimed at boosting supply in key districts across Sabah. Shahelmey said the Telibong II Phase 2 WTP in Tuaran, which will double its capacity from 80 million litres per day (MLD) to 160 MLD, is now 88 per cent complete and scheduled for completion by July this year. The Kogopon 2 WTP expansion project in Papar is 37 per cent complete and is targeted for completion by July 2026, including supporting pipelines and storage infrastructure. Meanwhile, Phase 1 of the Lahad Datu Water Supply System upgrade, with a capacity of 60 MLD, is also 88 per cent complete and expected to be ready by July 2026. He said the 5 MLD Mamut WTP in Ranau, which will support the district's growing population, is nearly complete at 95 per cent and should be operational by December this year. In Tawau, construction of the Tawau Dam with a 30 million cubic metre capacity is 53 per cent complete and is expected to finish by July 2026, adding a significant reserve for the district. Shahelmey said these completed facilities are expected to meet water needs in their respective districts for the foreseeable future, although local development rates could influence future demand. 'Upon completion of the construction and upgrading of the water treatment plants, the water supply in Sabah is expected to meet demand in those areas for the next several years,' he said. He added that while current projections show improved capacity, planning must remain flexible to accommodate future changes in demographics and economic growth. On alternative water solutions, he said the department is currently studying the feasibility of coastal reservoirs as an option in areas where dam sites are no longer viable. However, he cautioned that while coastal reservoirs are viable in principle, they pose long-term operational challenges due to their higher maintenance costs. 'The proposal to build coastal reservoirs is still under consideration by the Sabah Water Department,' he said. Shahelmey also confirmed that tapping underground water sources remains on the table, but emphasised that this depends on the availability and sustainability of underground reserves in proposed areas. 'Groundwater sources are among the options considered, but feasibility depends on the site conditions and volume of underground reserves,' he said. He added that a comprehensive site assessment is necessary before any groundwater extraction plans can be implemented to avoid environmental and technical complications. RM300m from Federal Govt insufficient for long-term plan THE RM300 million allocation from the Federal Government to address Sabah's water woes is insufficient to fully implement the State's long-term action plan, said Shahelmey. He said the funds, announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last year, only cover short-term measures proposed by the Sabah Water Department (JANS) and do not represent a comprehensive solution. 'The RM300 million allocation... only covers part of the original action plan and is limited to short-term solutions,' Shahelmey said in response to questions on whether the State would again need to intervene as it did during the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) student protest. He explained that a considerable amount of mechanical and electrical equipment needs to be repaired or replaced to prevent further supply disruptions, which in turn demands a substantial operating budget. 'Replacement works need to be conducted continuously and will require a significant operating budget,' he said, noting that efforts to address water issues are constrained by funding. Shahelmey added that the department has established short-, medium-, and long-term strategies to upgrade water supply across Sabah, but implementation has been hindered by limited financial resources. 'JANS recorded over 90 per cent expenditure performance for each allocated budget annually,' he said, 'but due to financial constraints and limited allocations, not all plans could be executed on schedule and had to be phased in.' He said the RM300 million announced earlier does not include the allocation for UMS and was not channelled through the State Government, but directly to the university. The RM300 million for JANS, he clarified, was in the form of a federal loan and is part of short-term programmes for various districts, separate from the university's water needs. 'In essence, the RM300 million allocation by the Federal Government is unrelated to UMS,' he said. Shahelmey said the total cost of all water supply programmes by JANS under the 12th Malaysia Plan is designed to span five years and involves both State and Federal allocations. He declined to provide a specific estimate on the total sum needed for 2025 alone, stating instead that resolving the issue demands ongoing funding to sustain system maintenance and prevent more severe breakdowns. On past water contract cancellations, he said JANS was left without personnel or skilled operators to run affected plants, due to the abrupt termination of agreements by the previous administration. 'For JANS, the immediate impact was the absence of personnel or skilled workers to take over the operations of the plants affected,' he said. He also confirmed that problems in districts such as Kudat and Sandakan are due to a mix of factors, including the termination of contracts and other operational and environmental challenges. 'Water supply issues in Kudat and Sandakan are due to multiple factors, including the direct or indirect termination of concessions, as well as technical issues and raw water pollution,' he said.
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