Local authorities in Sabah have declared a drought emergency, mobilizing an army of trucks equipped with water tanks to provide relief to the main town and numerous villages. The district, nearly twice the size of Singapore, is grappling with a severe water crisis attributed to climate change and delays in water-related projects. The government has urgently scrambled to restore water supply as the situation escalates.
The water crisis in Sabah reached a critical point when the facility along the Papar River was forced to shut down in mid-February. Low river levels allowed seawater to travel 13 kilometers upstream, leading to contamination of the raw water supply. This development has significantly compounded the existing issue, as the proportion of residents with access to safe drinking water in Sabah remains considerably lower than the national average.
The water infrastructure in Sabah has long been in a state of disrepair, contributing to the current predicament. Despite these challenges, Deputy Chief Minister Shahelmey Yahya initially dismissed claims of a water crisis in early March. He described the issue as a "shortage," attributing it to climate change and project delays. However, the severity of the situation suggests that this crisis was a long time coming.
The ongoing drought emergency highlights the urgent need for improved water management systems in Sabah. A quick scan of news headlines over recent years reveals that the current crisis was predictable, with warnings about inadequate water supply frequently surfacing. The government is now under pressure to not only address immediate needs but also implement long-term solutions to prevent future occurrences.
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