Stop Painting Picture Perfect To The Ongoing UWSS, JKR Told

Treated water supply issues have become one of the most talked-about problems in Penampang over the past few years, and the situation has worsened ever since the new government, nicknamed Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ), came into power in 2022.

The water issues have been particularly rampant in high-rise residential buildings in Kepayan, notably at Taman Penampang Apartment and Cybercity Apartment, among others, and have also affected Country Heights Apartment, located at the border of Moyog and Inanam.

More recently, the water problem has also started affecting many landed housing areas, especially in the lower Moyog region and parts of Kepayan, causing massive inconvenience to residents in both Moyog and Kepayan.

“I’ve received plenty of complaints from the ground, and what surprised me was that many residents have stopped asking the government machinery for answers because they keep receiving the same excuses. Yet, no one from the government has been vocal or come to their assistance,” said Pritchard Gumbaris, the Warisan Kg Kepayan Branch Chairman and Political Secretary to Warisan Deputy President, Darell Leiking.

“We demand Jabatan Kerja Raya, Jabatan Air, and Jetama to come clean and be transparent on these issues. Tell us, the residents, the real facts. Do not paint a perfect picture just to please or obscure the community,” he added.

“Last December 2024, we approached the State Works Ministry to express our concerns about the water issue. We were told there were plans for Penampang, and that the problem would be addressed once the Urgent Water Supply Scheme (UWSS) project at the Kasigui water treatment plant was completed in 2025.”

“During the recently concluded State Assembly in April 2025, the government again mentioned that the UWSS plant in Kasigui would be completed as scheduled. However, to my dismay, the project — supposedly to be completed by 30th April 2025 — is nowhere near completion,” said Pritchard.

“The building structure is still under construction; there is no way the suction plant, treatment plant, or supply channels are ready. Even the storage tanks have not been installed. Yet, when asked in the State Assembly, they conveniently claimed it would be completed on time,” he stressed.

“This is unacceptable. The people are suffering from a lack of treated water, yet the government tells a totally different story as good as lying to the public. The project was supposed to be built by CS Power Sdn Bhd as the main contractor, appointed by JETAMA, with Jabatan Kerja Raya monitoring it. Why can’t the government tell us the truth and be open about the progress? Why has there been no public update? A few months ago, I raised this issue, and yet again during the recent State Assembly, the government had the opportunity to be honest but chose instead to provide false information, hoping the public would simply accept it,” said Pritchard.

“If the government dares to claim that my motives are merely political or that I am trying to tarnish their supposed good work, I challenge them to open the gates to the Kasigui plant. Let the press and all stakeholders in, and explain why the UWSS project, which was supposed to be completed on 30th April 2025, is still only halfway built.”

“What irks and disappoints us further is the deafening silence from DAP Kepayan. I remember that in the past, they were the first to make noise about such issues. Now, they are too quiet. I guess it’s true what people on the ground are saying — DAP has become practically non-existent in Kepayan.”

“Therefore, I urge again — for the third time — for JKR to come clean. Tell us the truth about why the UWSS project is behind schedule. In fact, tell the whole of Sabah why the water supply issues are still ongoing, even though the government boasted about securing a massive RM6 billion loan from the Federal Government to tackle this very problem.”