By JAMES LEONG
SANDAKAN: Sandakan Member of Parliament Vivian Wong Shir Yee has voiced her deep frustration over the recurring water supply disruptions in the constituency, urging the State Government to develop a comprehensive masterplan to resolve the issue permanently.
Currently in Kuala Lumpur, Vivian stated that she has been inundated with calls and public messages regarding the water situation, while her team continues to monitor conditions on the ground.
In a statement on Wednesday, Vivian criticized the authorities for repeatedly offering the same explanation—”pipe maintenance works are being carried out”—every time a disruption occurs.
“The question is, how long must this continue to happen? Are we going to use the same excuse every time a pipe bursts, every time supply is cut off, and every time the people are forced to collect water and wait for water tanker lorries?” she asked.
Vivian highlighted that the fundamental issue lies in Sandakan’s aging piping network. Meanwhile, new developments and housing areas are continuously being approved without any corresponding upgrades to the water supply infrastructure.
She posed several critical questions to the State Government, including: “Where is the actual masterplan? What are the specific plans to replace the dilapidated pipes? And how does the government intend to increase water distribution capacity to accommodate population growth and future development?”
She also dismissed temporary fixes, such as the often-mentioned construction of five water tanks in Sandakan, asking, “What happens after that?”
“The people do not need repeated stopgap measures. What they need is a bold, comprehensive, and permanent solution,” she stressed.
Vivian added that water is a basic daily necessity, and frequent supply problems are unacceptable as they severely impact consumers.
The Sandakan MP expressed hope that the State Government will present a clear action plan for the next five, 10, and 20 years to ensure that water supply issues do not persist in the present or future.
‘The people do not need repeated stopgap measures. What they need is a bold, comprehensive, and permanent solution’ – Vivian
