LDP urges CM to intervene over competency test for plumbers

KOTA KINABALU: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president Datuk Chin Su Phin hopes that Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie Apdal would intervene and address the plight of plumbers who are affected by the new regulations that require pipe-fitters to take a competency test for the reissuance of their licence.

“I think it is not practical to require pipe-fitters to sit for the test in order to renew their licence. This is a foolish decision and a big mistake,” he asserted.

Chin said the Sabah Plumbers Association had asked for his assistance to resolve this matter.

“I have tried to make an appointment with the Minister of Infrastructure Development Datuk Peter Anthony to give my suggestions on this issue but he has refused to meet or negotiate with us,” he said.

Chin said he has also talked to Deputy Home Minister Datuk Mohd Azis bin Jamman about his suggestions, which the latter agreed.

He said Azis even offered to set up a meeting between Shafie and the Sabah Plumbers Association.

“I hope the Chief Minister can arrange a time to meet with the plumbers, listen to their plight and make an appropriate decision,” Chin said.

According to Chin, thousands of pipe-fitters in Sabah are unable to renew their plumbing licence due to the new conditions.

“There are currently about 100 licenced pipe-fitters left after the regulations took effect,” he said yesterday.

He said plumbers who were denied renewal of their licences could not tender for government projects, nor apply for water meters. Additionally, Chin said, the written competency test lacked transparency as the applicants were required to use pencils instead of pens for the examination.

“The people are not happy with the new regulations imposed by the Sabah Water Department. The minister should engage the stakeholders, including plumbers, in a dialogue session,” Chin remarked.

Chin reminded the minister that he has risen to his position today because the people had voted for him.

“I hope the present leaders will listen to the people. If they insist on making decisions without considering the people’s wishes like the previous administration, they will definitely lose support in the next general election,” he said.