Two Papar Water Projects Monitored For On-time Completion -Armizan

PAPAR, Nov 1 (Bernama) -- Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali has committed to regularly monitoring the construction of two water supply projects in the district to ensure they are completed on schedule.

Armizan, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Papar, said the initiative underscores the government’s commitment to tackling frequent water supply disruptions affecting residents and surrounding areas.

He said the two projects are the Kogopon II Papar Water Treatment Plant, which has achieved 59.39 per cent completion, and the construction of an alternative intake at Kampung Kabang, which was 36.92 per cent complete as of Oct 25.

“The Kogopon II Water Treatment Plant is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, increasing Papar’s water supply from 40 million litres per day (MLD) to 80 MLD, while construction of the medium-scale intake, which began on March 10, is slated for completion early next year.

“Let us work together to ensure both projects proceed smoothly, enabling us to resolve the long-standing water supply disruptions that have impacted the Papar community,” he said in a video message shared on Facebook today.

Armizan said the alternative intake being constructed at Kampung Kabang is designed to ensure the Limbahau Emergency Water Supply Scheme (EWSS) treatment plant remains operational during instances of saltwater intrusion.

He explained that the Limbahau EWSS and Jetama Limbahau Water Treatment Plant occasionally have to be temporarily shut down when raw water from Sungai Papar intake in Limbahau becomes untreatable, as chloride levels (saltwater) rise above the standard threshold of 120 milligrams per litre (mg/L).

“This situation often arises during the dry season and high-tide events, when seawater enters the intakes of both treatment plants, causing temporary water supply disruptions for numerous villages in the district,” he said.

Armizan said he, along with incumbent Kawang state assemblyman Datuk Ghulam Haidar Khan and incumbent Limbahau state assemblyman Datuk Juil Nuatim, is fully committed to ensuring that projects aimed at resolving water supply issues in Papar are carried out smoothly.

He also called on residents in the district to continue placing their trust in Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) leaders to serve the three state assembly seats within the Papar parliamentary constituency ahead of the 17th Sabah State Election.

-- BERNAMA