SANDAKAN: A group of individuals staged a flashmob in town on Monday carrying placards reflecting the community’s growing frustrations over the frequent electricity and water disruptions.
The peaceful protest was the culmination of a long-standing crisis that has severely affected both the quality of life and economic vitality in the district.
The most critical issue is the “back-to-back” nature of the disruptions. This represents more than a mere inconvenience; it is a systemic failure where the collapse of one utility directly triggers another. For instance, power outages disable water pumps and treatment plants, thereby transforming a single-point infrastructure failure that paralyses the entire community.
The severity of the situation was starkly visible as residents scrambled for basic necessities. Crates of drinking water were snapped up from supermarkets as dry taps entered a third day on Monday, underscoring the desperate conditions on the ground.
Sandakan Member of Parliament Vivian Wong Shir Yee told reporters she had been informed that the pumps at the treatment plant were not functioning, leaving many parts of Sandakan without any reliable water supply. – James Leong
