Federal govt's RM320 mln aid will expedite plans to solve Sabah water woes - Hajiji

KOTA KINABALU - The Sabah government is confident that a financial aid of RM320.25 million from the federal government will expedite its short-term plans to solve the state’s water woes, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

Hajiji said the financial aid will involve the implementation of six programmes encompassing 20 projects throughout the state, including nine projects under district plans for Kota Kinabalu, Tuaran, Putatan, Papar, Beaufort, Keningau, Tawau, Lahad Datu and Sandakan.

"The projects are expected to take six to 12 months to complete,” he said in a statement here today.

This morning, Hajiji had a meeting and briefing with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at his office in Putrajaya on Sabah’s plans to address the water supply problem.

Hajiji was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Shahelmy Yahya, who is also Sabah Works Minister, and Sabah State Secretary Datuk Seri Safar Untong.

The meeting was also attended by Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli, Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Functions) Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali and heads of relevant federal departments and agencies.

According to the statement, Hajiji said during the meeting he also shared the state government’s long-term high impact water supply plans, including two dam projects in Papar and at Upper Padas, Sipitang to ensure sustained water supply for the long term.

On this matter, he said the prime minister called for the immediate setting up of a task force comprising state and federal ministries to seek a holistic approach and the best way forward. - BERNAMA