KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has no plans to have a regulatory body for its water services, said state deputy chief minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya.

A few days ago, the deputy Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir had given the suggestion to Sabah to emulate Peninsular Malaysia which has the National Water Services Commission (SPAN).

He had said the commission not only functions to regulate water supply but also acts to establish several conditions under existing acts to "bind" operators to continuously improve the quality of service.

Akmal had also said that such commission is important because the overall reserve margin of Sabah's water supply in 2022 was only at 7.1 per cent and there is a possibility that the reserve margin of water supply in each district is even lower compared to the overall figure.

However, Shahelmey, who is also state Public Works minister, said that water is a state list, thus there is no plan to have a regulatory body.

"We have our own plans to manage our water resources and services," he said.

Despite the long-standing water woes, which is now compounded with the drought season, Sabah has mapped out short and long-term planning to address it.

Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor had set a three-year timeline to increase the water capacity through infrastructure development.

He said the Telibong II Water Treatment Plant in Tamparuli will increase the water supply capacity by 80 million litres per day (MLD) to accommodate the needs of northern Kota Kinabalu and Tuaran.

The state government has begun building a plant to increase the water supply from 40 MLD to 80 MLD in Kogopon, Papar, which is being implemented at a cost of RM380 million and is scheduled to be completed in 2026.

In addressing non-revenue water, which stands at 50 per cent, apart from replacing old pipes, the government will also introduce a vendor scheme to address illegal water connections especially in squatter settlements.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/03/1029734/state-govt-no-regulatory-body-needed-sabahs-water-services