Villagers seek emergency assistance
TUARAN: Residents from 10 villages in Tamparuli, near here, are urging for the activation of the Disaster Operation Control Centre (PKOB) following water supply problems due to the prolonged hot weather over the past month.
A resident of Kampung Bulieng, Linus Lukun, 51, said the hot weather and drought have caused the gravity water sources to dry up completely, forcing the villagers to look for alternative water supplies.
He said the situation has posed challenges for villagers in carrying out their daily activities such as cooking, bathing and using the toilet, leading some to resort to buying bottled water to fulfill their needs.
“I don’t earn much, so buying bottled water is not feasible for me. Therefore, I appeal to the Tuaran District Office to activate the PKOB and coordinate assistance for us villagers,” he told reporters on Sunday.
Frank Frederick, 56, from Kampung Wangkod, said the ongoing water supply problem has posed significant challenges for villagers, particularly in preparing for their children’s upcoming school session and the fasting month.
“The children usually bathe early to feel fresh for school. But with no water they feel sticky, uncomfortable and struggle to focus. In addition, getting drinking water becomes really hard, sometimes impossible,” he said.
Meanwhile, a resident of Kampung Ponopuan, Nurisah Dasim, 60, said the water supply problem in the area is critical and extremely challenging, especially for those who have recently given birth and have young children.
“As we are aware, newborns need meticulous care, particularly in terms of hygiene. Being a woman and a mother myself, I empathise with the struggles faced by this group. I urge the activation of PKOB because this situation has turned into a disaster for us here,” she said.
Meanwhile, Tuaran Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau, when contacted, also appealed for the immediate activation of PKOB in Tuaran, adding that he has personally reached out to the Tuaran District Office to hasten the process.
“I’ve been informed that there will be a meeting tomorrow to address the drought and I hope that during the meeting, a decision will be made to launch PKOB to help all affected residents,” said Madius who is currently in Kuala Lumpur for the Parliament session.
Apart from the three villages, other affected areas comprise Kampung Lontik/Maralamin, Kampung Tengkurangoh, Kampung Ulu Bakut, Kampung Bukit Giling, Kampung Wangkod, Kampung Kapa and Kampung Gayaratau.
Earlier this month, some 200 villagers in the Kiulu sub-district of Tuaran also voiced concerns about drying up gravity water feeds and appealed for help from the government.
On March 7, Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Shahelmey Yahya said the state government had agreed to carry out cloud seeding to address the declining water supply due to the dry spell that is expected to last till the middle of the year.
Shahelmey, who is state Works Minister, said the state cabinet meeting agreed to conduct cloud seeding at upstream areas to increase water for the river, helping boost water supply at water treatment plants and for people using gravity water feeds.
However, he said that most of the state dams could sustain a water supply for three months, except for the Pulau Sebatik dam in Tawau, which has dried up.