KOTA KINABALU: Sabahans will know soon whether private companies are profiteering from the ongoing water shortage problems in the state, said State Works Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya.
He said his ministry together with the Sabah Water Department are gathering facts on the matter.
“We may need a bit of time to gather it,” he said when contacted.
Tanjung Aru assemblyman Datuk Junz Wong had recently asked why the Sabah Women and Children’s Hospital in Likas was charged exorbitant water bills when it faced water shortage problems.
He claimed there were companies exploiting the dire situation due to the frequent supply disruptions by selling treated water at a higher rate.
He quoted a letter from the government hospital addressed to the State Community Development and People’s Well-Being Minister Datuk James Ratib which stated that RM145,490.50 was charged by a private company who supplied water during a supply cut in June.
“Why is it that these private companies are allowed to sell water at a higher rate in a situation where there is no supply? It’s bad enough that there is already no water for the hospital but they add salt to the wound by charging more than the normal tariff,” asked Wong.
He said the Sabah Water Supply Enactment 2003 allowed the Water Department to issue licences to companies to supply water but the tariffs can only be set by the department.
