KOTA KINABALU: Two supermarkets in Kunak were each made RM10,000 poorer for illegally connecting and tampering with water pumps.
According to Kunak district Water Department works officer Mohd Mohd Suhaizan Mohd Yunus, the offences were discovered by an enforcement team during an operation at 9am on Tuesday (July 2) following a tip-off.
He said one of the supermarkets was found using a 5cm pipe to connect directly from the department’s main pipe to its premises.
“This pipe was detected channelling water to the supermarket premises without passing through the provided meter.
“The fine was imposed under Section 49(b) of the Sabah State Water Supply Enactment 2003,” he said on Wednesday (July 3).
The other supermarket was found using a tampered water pump to draw additional supply, punishable under Section 59 of the same enactment.
Suhaizan advised consumers to use water legally and refrain from putting up illegal connections.
"The public is also urged to notify us of any water theft or leaking pipes through our careline number 088-326888,” he said.