KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is still being plagued by a water crisis despite the federal government approving an allocation of RM320 million about two months ago.
Parti Warisan Kota Kinabalu division Information Chief Samuel Wong said city folks, including those who live in luxurious condominiums, have been grappling with severe water disruptions for nearly a month.
He added the ongoing water crisis was getting worse and left many questioning if they were living in a third-world country.
"They have been experiencing up to four days of water outages per week. Residents have expressed their frustrations as they await water supply tanks from the state water department, only to be disappointed on numerous occasions.
"The ongoing water crisis throughout Sabah raises concerns about the living conditions and prompts questions about the government's response and prioritisation of issues," he said in a statement.
Wong added that the access to basic utilities like water is an essential human right and should not be compromised.
He said the prolonged water crisis has left affected Sabahans throughout the state wondering about the government's actions and sense of urgency in addressing the issue.
"Despite their reliance on water supply tanks, it appears that the delivery is not always punctual, and what's worse is that some areas do not even receive water supply tanks from the state water department most of the time.
"Sabahans rightfully seek answers about the root cause of the water crisis and the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah government's emergency short-term and long-term plans to solve this issue.
"The GRS government's response to the water crisis has left Sabahans frustrated and disheartened due to lack of transparency and communication."
Wong also said that the water crisis was affecting the local economy.
The tourism sector such as hospitality, food and beverage outlets will suffer as tourists will reconsider their travel plans amid the water uncertainties.
Yesterday, it was reported that the Sabah Water department had set up a task force last month to address the issue in the state capital.
Among the measures is to stop selling water to tankers so that there will be adequate pressure to push through the water to the delivery system.