I criticize the Federal Government being not considerate, as only 1 percent of project cost for Tawau Dam is allocated in this year budget, even though water tap in Tawau district is running dry recently.
According to Parliament Hansard dated 24th March 2016, Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water, Datuk Seri Dr. Maximus Ongkili, in replying to Member Parliament for Kota Kinabalu, Jimmy Wong on the issue of Tawau dam construction, Maximus has said that Federal Government is allocating RM4 million for the project in this year budget, as the project needs RM416 million for completion.
According to the hansard, the third phase of Tawau Water Supply Scheme, is funded in the form of soft loan. The design for the project is completed, and it is undergoing Value Management stage now in Economic Planning Unit which under the Prime Minister Office. It is expected to open tender in end of June, and physical work would be commenced by end of this year.
The official answer by the Minister is totally contradicting with statement by Member Parliament for Tawau, Datuk Mary Yap. She has said that the dam project at Gudang Empat here is expected to begin in June. I want to know, can’t she even differentiate the meaning of open tender and work commencement?
Tawau is in desperate for water, but our government only allocate 1 percent of the total project cost in this year. How do we feel? I really feel the Sabahan is marginalized. The third largest town of Sabah don’t even get a water dam which can provide buffering zone during drought season. Please, BN shouldn’t take Sabah as Fixed Deposit as granted.
I repeat my demand to save Tawau from water crisis, namely stop and investigate illegal logging, commence dam construction immediately, take actions while waiting for dam completed, river dredging or tube well drilling, and cloud seeding if needed.