Kota Kinabalu: Former Sabah Water Department Director Datuk Amarjit Singh said consumers and taxpayers deserve better than quick-fix deals disguised as expert advice amid Sabah’s persistent water crisis.
He said suppliers selling pipes, plants or technology should never be the ones deciding which system is “best” for the public interest.
“Urgency must not erase independent, honest engineering judgment — or blind the public to hidden conflicts of interest.”He stressed that a clear line must be drawn.
“Many firms have good tech and speed but if they recommend what they profit from, you lose the neutral assessment you actually need,” Amarjit cautioned.
Under professional rules, registered engineering consultants must offer objective evaluations — unlike manufacturers, operators or service providers whose business interests shape what they propose.
Whether for desalination, treatment plants, pipes or reuse schemes, he insists that full feasibility — cost, energy, reliability, maintenance, long-term bills — must be reviewed independently before signing off.
“The party selling or running a solution should not be the sole judge of its worth,” he said, adding “We want speed — yes. But Sabah’s water supply also demands transparency, accountability and evidence-based choices, not glossy offers that may cost consumers more in the long run.”Amarjit’s call on every major water project must pass independent engineering audit first, so what gets built is sustainable, fair and truly serves the people — not commercial agendas.
