Water Dept needs to buck up

LESS than two weeks ago, on Tuesday, September 6 to be exact, the State Water Department undertook maintenance for the treatment plant at Babagon and there was no supply for more than 12 hours, from 8am up to late at night.

I believe I was one of those who expected better water quality when service resumed but as usual it is the same unclean water and it is disgusting that up to today the standard of water is still way below expectation. It is a real frustration to see clothes stained by murky water after taking them out from the washing machine and something must be done by the department to ensure the quality of water they supply is free from whatever contaminants.

It cannot be accepted that the usual reason for the poor quality is always due to turbidity from the Moyog River as even during clear skies and the water from the river is clear, there is still dirt in the water coming out from our taps.

I do believe millions of ringgit have been spent by the government on the improvement of water supply and I believe too that improvements should come not only from massive extensions of pipes but most of all from sufficient supply and good quality too.

At this stage, the State Water Department is undertaking extensive preparations for the construction of a new dam at Kaiduan, aimed of course at meeting the needs of the state, with particular concern to the West Coast Area. It would be fair to support that proposal but the government has to ensure that the current system justifies the need to undertake the new dam since the dam at Babagon is sufficient to meet the demands, even though the construction of new buildings are evident along our area.

As it is now, the department entrusted to manage the resource is not even able to give a satisfactory performance and the additional demand for more efficiency should the proposed Kaiduan Dam be implemented will only tax the department more, leaving more problems for the people.

The current minister charged with the management of water services, Deputy Chief Minister cum Minister of Infrastructure Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, whose political duties are less now, should place more emphasis on the Water Department since his duties as party president of PBS is now being undertaken by his deputy, Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili. It would be a real blessing for the people of Sabah to have efficient water supply and the onus is therefore on Pairin to ensure that this issue is solved before his retirement.

It is most obvious that the whole fault lies with the management in the department as so much funds had been expended by the government for the improvement but nothing positive is coming out of it, in fact the supply is going backwards as evident from the cries of the people from Kota Belud, Beaufort, Tawau, Kudat, etc.

Pairin could perhaps call for a white paper on the department considering the huge expenses by the department and the ongoing problems faced by the people.

But most of all, Pairin may urgently need to look at the management in the department in view of the apparent weaknesses in putting an end to the problems.

As the current director has been serving for more than two decades, he should have foreseen ways and means to resolve issues related to poor quality, empty taps and other occurrences and he should have been strategizing with his deputy and other competent officers for the improvement of the service.

But what is most surprising is that the appointed deputy is not even attached at the headquarters but instead at the department’s division at Gaya Park.

His continued attachment at Gaya Park is something that Pairin should look into as it not only blocks the promotion of another officer who may be more able but also deprives the department of the much needed ‘expertise’ of resolving every issue for the good of the people. To conclude, it would also be appropriate for the State Water Department to explain how is it that the same areas are affected in loss of water supply every time a maintenance work for the treatment plant either at Kasigui or at Babagon takes place, and that the same dirty water comes out from the taps after each exercise.

My thought from the statements given by the department each time the Kasigui treatment plant is contaminated or maintained is that the particular plant is solely dependent on water from the river water after the dam at Babagon. Ex-Civil Servant