Kinabatangan By-election: Kampung Paris Villagers Hope Water Issue Is Resolved By New MP

KINABATANGAN, Jan 14 (Bernama) – Residents of Kampung Paris, a village located about 56 kilometres from the district town, hope that the issue of clean water supply in the village can be resolved by the new elected representative.

According to the residents, they are still stuck with the harsh reality of having to rely on rainwater catchments as the main source of water for their daily use.

This is because the piping system is too old, making it difficult for residents in the village and surrounding areas to enjoy clean water supply, just like several other villages in the district.

Food vendor Noraini Jamal, 23, (she) said the issue of clean water supply is still ongoing until now without any complete solution, thus affecting the daily lives of the residents.

“We are facing a problem of water shortage and this issue is still ongoing until now. We only rely on rainwater, apart from relying on water from a nearby pond with the help of a water pump,” she told Bernama.

Another resident, Normansah Hussin, 33, also echoed the request for urgent attention to be given to the issue of water supply in the village and surrounding areas, in addition to good road infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat Mohd Kurniawan Naim Moktar, 32, acknowledged that the matter was among the issues raised during his meeting with the villagers.

The Kinabatangan UMNO Youth chief, who is more affectionately known as Naim Moktar, said the issue was not new and his late father, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, had brought up the issue in the Dewan Rakyat.

Mohd Kurniawan Naim vowed to continue voicing the issue and would ensure that it could be resolved immediately if given the mandate as a representative of the people in the Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election on Jan 24.

In the Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election, Mohd Kurniawan Naim is facing a three-cornered fight against Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman (Warisan) and Independent candidate Goldam Hamid, while in the Lamag state by-election, it is a one-on-one contest between Mohd Ismail Ayob (BN) and Mazliwati Abdul Malek (Warisan).

The by-elections were held following the death of the incumbent of both seats, Bung Moktar, 66, on Dec 5 last year.

The polling day for both by-elections is set for Jan 24, while early voting is on Jan 20.

-- BERNAMA