PAPAR: The Member of Parliament here, Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, warned a State Government-linked company (GLC) which was awarded to build a second water intake at Kg Kabang, along Papar River, to speed up implementation of the vital project or he will “mangamok” (go berserk).
He said although Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor announced funding for the project last year, construction has yet to begin.
“Unfortunately, until today, the project has not started… after I made noise, the State Ministry of Finance resolved the issue by appointing a government-GLC to carry out the project.
“However, I received feedback that work has not yet begun. Hence, I am urging the concerned State GLC—since you are the one who wanted this project, get it done before I lose my temper. This is a crucial project for the people of Papar.
“This project is very important to address the issue of excessive water turbidity at the existing intake site. In my view, this project is not as complicated as the upgrading Kogopon Water Treatment Plant project.
“I will continue to monitor the implementation of this project to ensure its completion,” he said.
Armizan was commenting on ongoing water issues in Papar and a notice issued by the State Water Department’s on potential water shortages at the beginning of Ramadan until early April, 2025.
On March 20, last year, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor instructed the Water Department and the State GLC to build a second water intake to feed the Emergency Water Supply Scheme (EWSS) Water Treatment Plant (WTP) in Kg Limbahau, here.
The second intake is proposed at Kg Kabang located further upstream of Papar River to avoid a recurrence of saltwater intrusion that has forced a total shutdown of the EWSS WTP.
Hajiji was reported as saying that the proposed second intake at Kg Kabang will be the solution for the high salinity issue at the first intake in Kg Limbahau, he said, after visiting the Limbahau EWSS WTP.
According to Armizan, there is an issue now with the Papar River in Limbahau with rising chloride levels or turbidity from the upstream of Papar River due to rain causing murky water in the river at the first water intake at Limbahau.
“If the second water intake project is completed and operational, then it can switch to the second intake. That’s why completion of this project is so important,” he said.
Last year, Papar faced a severe water crisis including during Ramadan, affecting a large portion of the population, significantly.
“Two main factors contributed to the water woes last year were the end of the Northeast Monsoon (MTL) season and the El Niño phenomenon at that time.
“But this year, the El Niño phenomenon is not expected to occur, so while there may still be some disruptions in the water supply, they are unlikely to be as severe as last year,” he said.
Nonetheless, Armizan, who is also Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, pledged his commitment to find an immediate solution, as the available water supply in the district remains insufficient to meet residents’ needs.
He said Papar requires up to 92 million litres per day (MLD), but the available water supply is only 62 MLD and the water issue is further exacerbated by non-revenue water (NRW) losses due to leaking pipes and other factors.
“I am very firm when comes to water issues here because I received a mandate from the people of Papar in 2022, who placed their hopes in me to resolve this long-standing water issues,” he said.