WATER WOES PLAGUE RESIDENTS OF UNIVERSITY APARTMENT SEPANGGAR
- Wartawan Nabalu News
- Mar 10, 2021
- 2 min read
10 Mar 2021
By Ilona Andrew
SEPANGGAR: Residents of University Apartment (UA) here are frustrated over the relentless water woes in their settlement that is not seeing light at the end of the tunnel anytime soon.
Aside from stocking up cartons of mineral water in fear of water deprivation, the residents rely on water rationing exercise that is scheduled only from 6-8pm daily, sometimes 5-7am.
The reason being, the residents were told by the apartment’s management, is that water pressure is low. “Or the water supply tanker simply does not come,” said a frustrated resident of UA Phase 2.
Norhuda Salleh, a staff from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) who has been living there since 2012, told Nabalu News that the problem which has been going on since Chinese New Year started worsening last week.
“The problem is that we never received any notice from the State Water Department (JANS) at all. When we called (the department) to ask about it, they only told us that there has been some technical problem and they have not heard from their technician.
“Another excuse they told us is that our apartment is located at the far end which makes it hard for water to reach our area,” she said.
According to Norhuda, the management only issue notices and make announcements on its WhatsApp status as they do not have any WhatsApp group for residents.
“In their WhatsApp status, they stated that the water supply tanker did not come, so they could not supply water for us.
“I have nowhere to go except for my office whenever I need water since I don’t have any relative here in Sabah,” said the resident originally from Peninsula Malaysia.
The plight of the residents was heard by Sepanggar MP Datuk Azis Jamman who went down the field to inspect the residential area yesterday.
“I hope there will be prompt action from the government, as I understand the water issue in the Sepanggar parliamentary where there are more demands than supply. I was also understood that a water plant will be built for a long-term solution.
“But I have discussed with the director of JANS about the short-term solution which is to send water supply tanker to exercise water distribution, and I hope it can be implemented as soon as possible, especially in this residential area,” he said when met by reporters at the site.
According to Azis, he was informed by the management that even though the tank is full water will be finished in a matter of just three hours due to large numbers of consumers in the area.
“It’s hard to point out the source of the problem because the reality is there have always been water supply problems in this parliamentary.
“It is hoped that JANS and the government would take proactive measures to make sure water supply continues by ensuring that water tankers are sent to distribute water,” he added.
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