Priority to fix Beaufort water supply problem

KOTA KINABALU: Beaufort’s water supply problem will be raised at the federal level so that it can be given focus by the Pakatan Harapan government in the 2019 national budget.

Special officer to the Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Rahman Yacub stressed that this issue would be given priority as the previous government had failed to resolve it.

He said a close working relationship with the federal government, especially with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, would be a platform to ensure that resolving water supply problem in Beaufort would be included in the 2019 national budget.

Abdul Rahman, who is contesting for the PKR Beaufort division chief post in the party election this November, said getting clean water supply for Beaufort was one of his agendas.

“I was briefed by the relevant agency about the problem and was informed that it will take about RM300,000 to get the Jempangah water treatment plant fully functional,” he said adding that he would not stop pursuing the matter until the problem was solved.

Abdul Rahman, who was PKR Sabah election director in the 14th general election, is in a three corner contest with PKR Beaufort action chief Datuk John OT Ghani and Muali Aching for the post.

The Sabah Baitumal deputy chairman also said he would strengthen PKR Beaufort with the aim to win the parliamentary seat in the next election.

“This can be done if the division’s members give me the trust to lead them - just look at the results of the 14th general election. Barisan Nasional (BN) was defeated after being in power for more than 60 years.

“We have direct access to the top leaders in the PKR central leadership because other than the current party president Datuk Seri Wan Azizah, I am also close to the incoming president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim,” he said.

Abdul Rahman said he had proven his struggles for the party was sincere as he had been with PKR since it was formed.

He also said his focus in Beaufort would be increasing development of basic infrastructure as well as socially and economically.