KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Water Department corruption trial will serve as a lesson for everyone to prevent such cases in the future, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
"Now the court proceedings (the trial for Sabah Water department) is ongoing, it serves a lesson not only for the state Water Department but also for other civil servants.
"The government's stance is we would not compromise with corruption as the practice is a serious disease which if not tackled, will become a problem such as water supply and the selling of water through (private) water tanks.
"It will also hinder development and programmes by the government," he said in reply to an additional question by Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (Warisan-Senallang) during the state assembly sitting.
Shafie asked what were measures taken by the state government to address corruption happening in a government department associated with water supply.
Earlier, Datuk Abdul Ghani Mohamed Yassin (Gagasan-Nabawan) asked about the government's short-term strategy in solving basic necessities and infrastructure in the state.
Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Abidin Madingkir said through Sabah Water Department, the state government has allocated RM300.25 million for short-term measures, including 20 priority projects to reduce Non-Revenue Water (NRW) from 59.57 percent to 53 percent within 24 months.
These projects involve the replacement of water pumps and power generation equipment at water treatment plants, capacity upgrades for distribution and water treatment plants, climate change mitigation, and the crackdown on illegal connections in various areas, including Kota Kinabalu, Tuaran, Papar, Beaufort, Tawau, and Sandakan.
"The expansion of the Kogopon Water Treatment Plant's capacity from 40 million litres per day (MLD) to 80 MLD, scheduled for completion in August 2026 is expected to address water supply issues in the southern areas of Kota Kinabalu, such as Putatan, Kinarut, and Papar.
"The implementation of the Telibong II Water Treatment Plant Capacity Expansion Project from 80 MLD to 160 MLD. Currently undergoing testing and commissioning for plant components, this new water treatment plant is expected to operate at half capacity, handling 10 MLD, by early December 2024."
Abidin said the state government is also conducting a feasibility study for the construction of a hydroelectric dam in Ulu Padas, Tenom, and a dam in Kaiduan, Papar.
If both of these major impact projects are realised, he said they could meet the water supply demand for the north, central, and couth Kota Kinabalu regions, including the lower interior areas from Kimanis, Bongawan, Membakut, Kuala Penyu, Menumbok and Sipitang to the Sabah Oil and Gas Terminal (SOGT) industrial area.