KOTA KINABALU: Frustrated with the continuous water thefts, residents of a village in Sepanggar near here have staged a peaceful demonstration, calling for stern and concrete actions to solve the problem.
Villagers of Kampung Suang Parai said this issue had plagued them for many years, with authorities such as the Water Department taking only reactive short-term measures.
Ali Saptu Durasit, 62, who has been living there since 1999, said the crime had caused water disruptions and low pressure for some 200 homes in the village.
“We have lodged numerous complaints and the authorities only cut off the illegal pipes, which would then be easily reconnected by the water thieves.
“This is a recurring matter and it just goes round and round without a permanent solution,” he added.
A police report was lodged on Saturday, he said. Ali also claimed that apart from water thefts, villagers also faced power thefts committed by the suspicious squatters.
“We are here to fight for our rights, our safety and our money. Please do something,” he pleaded.
Sabah Works Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya said a special enforcement unit had been tasked to deal with the issue and efforts to eradicate water thefts were ongoing.
“We have carried out operations to disconnect the illegal pipes and will continue to do so until the problem is solved,” he said.
