Papar: Interference with sluice valves at two booster pumps operated by the Sabah State Water Department (JANS) has caused the ongoing water supply crisis in Mukim Kinarut and Kawang, Papar, since late December. Papar Member of Parliament Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the interference diverted water supply to areas outside Mukim Kinarut and Kawang, beyond the Papar boundary.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Armizan noted that a special JANS task force found the interference had further reduced the available water supply to areas already under rationing until the completion of the Kogopon 2 Water Treatment Plant, resulting in significant hardship for residents. He highlighted this issue in a statement today.
Armizan, who is also the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister, shared that based on the report, he had lodged a police complaint at the Kinarut police station yesterday. He stated the purpose of lodging the report is to request the police to investigate actions that appear to involve elements of mischief and sabotage against public infrastructure, which have caused public harm. He emphasized that although JANS has committed to conducting an internal investigation, the matter should also be investigated by the police as it involves elements of criminal offences.
With the Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor’s agreement, Armizan has requested that Sabah State Secretary Datuk Seri Safar Untong chair a special meeting yesterday with relevant departments, agencies, and contractors of the two Papar water supply projects on the matter. Following the meeting, efforts will be made to ensure the continued delivery of water supply by tankers with support from various parties. An immediate step is to implement a cross-connection between the Kogopon Water Treatment Plant (P1) main tank pipeline and the Kawang (P3) main tank pipeline. This will allow treated water to be supplied directly from the plant to the P3 main tank, which serves Mukim Kinarut and Kawang, without using the longer Melinsung main tank pipeline network (R22). Connection work is set to begin today.
