Sabah Requests Additional Soft Loans To Upgrade Water Supply Infrastructure, Sewage

KUDAT, May 9 (Bernama) -- The Sabah state government requires additional soft loan facilities from the federal government to upgrade water supply infrastructure and repair the outdated sewage system, which is now over 50 years old.

Its Deputy Chief Minister I, Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam said this is because the main issue currently plaguing a large part of the state, including Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Tawau, is the insufficient water supply and high non-revenue water (NRW) rate.

Joachim, who is also the Sabah Minister of Works and Utilities, explained that the existing sewage system has been in place for too long, causing many underground pipe structures to deteriorate.

"That's why one of the things we need is to increase soft loans for water and sewage, because our sewage system is old, over 50 years, so many parts are broken," he said.

He said this while speaking on behalf of the Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor at Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's reception with Pulau Banggi residents here today.

Also present were the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak) Datuk Mustapha Sakmud, and the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Zulkifli Hasan.

Others present were the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, Sabah State Secretary Datuk Seri Safar Untong and Banggi assemblyman Datuk Mohammad Mohamarin.

Meanwhile, Joachim on behalf of the people of Sabah extended his highest appreciation to Anwar because under his administration, nine demands of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) have been successfully resolved, resulting in a total of 13 out of 29 claims being successfully resolved.

He also said that resolving Sabah's revenue claims is also very much needed to improve road infrastructure leading to rural village areas, which is believed to be able to lift the people out of the poverty trap and boost the state's economy to a better level.

"We understand there are issues, we are negotiating, but if possible, we want the 40 per cent (rights demand) to be expedited for the development of the state of Sabah," he added.

-- BERNAMA