The State Infrastructural Development Minister Tan Sri Pairin Kitingan fails to respond to the Tawau people’s demand, as he can’t even confirms when would the construction of the RM415 million Cinta Mata water dam begin.
According to Pairin’s statement yesterday, he said that “the construction of Cinta Mata water dam would begin in the east coast Tawau district later this year”.
What’s the exact meaning of ‘later this year’? It could be any time from now. How uncommitted the state minister towards this project which is the only long term solution for Tawau water shortage problem.
What are the alternatives would be taken by government while waiting for the completion of the water dam construction?
Pairin has mentioned the cloud seeding is expensive but yet unreliable. He also talked about desalination plant, one of the solutions being considered. But can he just tells us what is the planning ahead if the El Niño induced beyond July?
The BN state government is totally no clue on the state’s preparedness for a water supply emergency if the drought persisted.
For instance, Tawau was hit by the water shortage crisis started early of this year. So far the local Water Department is only deploying water tankers as well as private one to deliver water to those in need.
However, it is no longer the effective way. Despite taking two hours to wait for one’s turn and fill the water into the tank, the water flow rate is reducing given lower and lower water level in the river. We received more than 100 complaints in a day but only manage to deliver 10 in the same day. If the government still no clue on what should be done besides deploying water tanker, there is no end to this suffer.
I further question Pairin’s motive to “hard sell” Kaiduan Dam by justifying it with Kota Kinabalu water demand in next 15 years while delaying Cinta Mata Dam.
Is it due to higher value of Kaiduan Dam, RM2.8 billion as Cinta Mata Dam only costs RM415 million? Higher project value has higher economical impact for contractor? Or simply because Tawau less important than KK? If the Federal Government have to lend money to State in the form of soft loan to kick off Cinta Mata Dam, do they have the huge budget to start Kaiduan Dam?
The shelve head bald protest against failure of government to address Tawau water crisis would still continue on this Sunday, as Pairin’s yesterday statement is not acceptable and satisfactory.