Sabah Cabinet addresses Tawau water supply crisis

The Sabah Cabinet has addressed the ongoing water supply disruptions in Tawau, with Chief Minister Hajiji Noor ordering immediate action to assist affected residents. The crisis stems from a shortage of raw water resources caused by dry weather and low rainfall, which has impacted the operations of the North Water Treatment Plant (LRA Utara) due to poor raw water quality in the Tawau River.

Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan, the Minister for Youth Development, Sports, and Creative Economy, reported that the issue was raised during a recent Cabinet meeting. In response, the Chief Minister has directed the Ministry of Works and Utilities to ensure the Sabah State Water Department (JANS) in Tawau takes proactive measures. These include increasing the deployment of water tankers to affected areas to mitigate the impact on daily needs.

Minister of Works and Utilities Joachim Gunsalam has assured that the Director of JANS will monitor the situation closely and mobilize all available resources. While recent rainfall has occurred, officials noted that it has not been sufficient to significantly raise river levels or fully restore plant operations.