Water arrears: Dept to negotiate for best solution

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Water Department will negotiate for the best solution to Sabah Institusi Pendidikan Quarters’ (KIPS) RM700,000 water payment arrears, said Infrastructure Development minister Datuk Peter Anthony.

Peter said the ministry had directed the Sabah Water Department director to find the solution by holding a meeting at the institute here yesterday.

It was reported that over 200 families had suffered from total water supply disruption for less than two weeks today due to the disconnection done by the department.

The arrears were accumulated over a two-year period from April 2017.

“When it comes to water disconnection and such, the method is undertaken by us according to the law,” he said after a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) singing ceremony between the Sabah Water Department and Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) at Wisma KPI in Sembulan here yesterday.

The MoU is to provide training to pipe-fitters in Sabah.

“If we do not do the disconnection, it means our officers including the director are not carrying out their duties well and this will damage the image of the ministry. I understand that if they really cannot make a lump sum payment they can discuss with the Water Department to make payment in phases.

“We will take note of this and make a negotiation. This afternoon, we will direct the Water Department director to negotiate with them the best method to resolve this problem,” he added.

Peter said a matter similar to this had not only arisen in Kota Kinabalu but also in Sandakan where a school had RM20,000 payment arrears for water supply.