Kota Kinabalu: Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri (PKAN) described the RM4.06 billion Federal allocation for Sabah’s water infrastructure as a game-changer, but called for swift implementation and rigorous monitoring to ensure every ringgit delivers tangible results for the people.
Its President Datuk Henrynus Amin said the allocation to address Sabah’s decades-long water crisis required urgent action and strict accountability.
Welcoming the financial allocation, he said the massive funding pledge, announced by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in Kudat recently, was the largest-ever single allocation to tackle Sabah’s water woes and was aimed at overhauling ageing infrastructure and addressing chronic shortages affecting households, businesses and communities statewide.
“PKAN welcomes the commitment with gratitude, but emphasises that speed, transparency and accountability will determine its success.
“For years, Sabahans have suffered dry taps, low pressure and muddy water – symptoms of infrastructure failure that temporary fixes could never cure. This RM4.06 billion is not just money; it is our chance to build a lasting solution,” Henrynus said in a statement.
He highlighted urgent realities on the ground, including burst pipes and leakages leaving high-rise residents in Sandakan and Inanam with little or no water, as well as muddy and unsafe tap water affecting homes in Ranau.
These, he said, demanded a complete infrastructure overhaul rather than patchwork repairs.
“Water is a fundamental human right and the foundation of public health and economic progress. This funding must be turned into tangible results without delay,” he stressed.
Henrynus pledged his party’s full cooperation with the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development and the Sabah State Government, but said there were clear expectations.
“Projects must roll out swiftly and be monitored closely at every stage. No delays, no cost overruns, no waste. Every ringgit must be accounted for, and every community must see improvements as quickly as possible.”He thanked Ahmad Zahid for prioritising Sabah’s needs, saying the allocation showed that the Federal Government had heard Sabah’s voice.
However, he added: “The true measure of success will not be the announcement – it will be clean, steady water flowing into homes across Sabah, delivered on time and free from corruption or mismanagement.”PKAN, he said, stood ready to support implementation while keeping a watchful eye on progress to ensure the historic investment fulfilled its promise to every Sabahan.
