SANDAKAN: Former Tanjung Papat Assemblyman Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah voiced disappointment over Sandakan’s exclusion from the RM1 billion allocation in Budget 2026 to upgrade Sabah’s water supply system.
Tan, also a former Deputy Chief Minister, said Sandakan has long faced one of the State’s worst water shortages, yet was once again left out — a reflection of continued marginalisation.
He noted that while the Prime Minister’s RM1 billion allocation includes new water infrastructure in Tawau and pipeline replacements in Kota Kinabalu, Penampang and Putatan, Sandakan received nothing despite its severe water problems.
“The Sandakan Member of Parliament (MP) must take full responsibility and speak up for the people. She should raise this issue during the Budget debate to ensure Sandakan is not sidelined again,” he said in an interview with Merdeka Daily News.
Tan said MPs have a duty to fight for real allocations and ensure the Prime Minister and federal ministries understand the urgency of Sandakan’s problems.
He added that just 10 per cent of the RM1 billion — about RM100 million — would be enough to upgrade the Segaliud Water Treatment Plant and replace the valve system that prevents seawater intrusion into the Kinabatangan River.
He said he is not against the Budget’s direction but urged the Government to take a fairer and more balanced approach in addressing the needs of all districts.
“Sandakan cannot continue to be ignored, nor can the people endure another five years of water shortages,” he said.
Tan, who once served as Infrastructure Development Minister, said Sandakan’s reliance on water pumped from distant treatment plants is costly, inefficient and prone to disruption due to terrain and ageing pipelines.
He proposed developing groundwater resources and implementing a zoned water supply system to improve stability, noting that groundwater sources were utilised during his tenure as Tanjung Papat Assemblyman.
Tan also urged the Government to address the salinisation issue in the Segaliud River Basin and to build long-term protective structures to prevent seawater intrusion.
He said Sandakan’s power and road infrastructure also lag behind.
Despite the RM1.2 billion allocation to improve Sabah’s power stability, he said frequent blackouts remain common in Sandakan.
“If RM100 million is enough to solve Sandakan’s basic problems, why has the district continued to be neglected? This raises serious questions about fairness in administration.
“Water, electricity and roads are the foundation of development. If these cannot even be guaranteed, any so-called development blueprint is just empty talk,” he said.
