KUALA LUMPUR: Water supply disruption from Lawa Gadong on the mainland to Labuan island has reached a point where locals may have to forgo bathing for up to five days, claims Datuk Dr Suhaili Abdul Rahman.
"As I had mentioned in my speech, the water situation has reached a critical stage," said Suhaili (PN-Labuan) in Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (Feb 23).
He asked Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad the status of the RM146mil allocation to upgrade the water supply system in Labuan including from the Lawa Gadong treatment plant in Beaufort, Sabah.
"When will the project for the approved RM146mil allocation be implemented?
"Labuan was made a Federal Territory 39 years ago but why are there no plans by the government to develop a water treatment plant like what is done for Langkawi," he said.
He also questioned why the upgrading works at the Jalan Kolam treatment plant in Labuan were being carried out in a piecemeal manner.
Nik Nazmi assured Suhaili work to upgrade the water supply system in Labuan was underway.
He pointed out upgrading work at the Jalan Kolam treatment plant ran into delays when the contractors surrendered the project back to the ministry.
"The project has been retendered again and it will be completed by the third quarter of 2024," he said.
He also said that RM206mil was approved under the 12th Malaysia Plan to further upgrade several water treatment plants in Labuan.
Nik Nazmi said this includes replacing some 50km of old water pipelines which will benefit some 20,000 account holders.
He said the upgrading works will be carried out in phases till 2025.
On a separate matter, Wong Shu Qi (PH-Kluang) complained of the very cold condition in Parliament
She noted that MPs had to wear extra clothing just to keep warm.
She suggested a system that allowed for air-condition temperature to be regulated, which would help save electricity bills for the government.
Both Nik Nazmi and Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Johari Abdul took note of Wong's suggestion.
