ABOUT 500 Orang Asli residents in Kampung Pasir Linggi and Kampung Machang in Pos Lebir, Gua Musang, have been suffering from water shortages for three weeks.

The residents said the problem is due to the tap water reservoir drying up in the hot weather, making supply insufficient for daily use.

A resident, Amoi Latif, 55, said the situation forces her to fetch water every day from the river, which is more than 500m away from the settlement.

“For three weeks we have been struggling with the problem, there is no water during the day and water only comes at night around midnight or 1am.

“At midnight, we usually fetch water for cooking, but it is still not enough because we do not have big barrels (to store water),” she said when met by reporters in Kampung Pasir Linggi, Pos Lebir.

Kampung Pasir Linggi chief Harun Ismail said the problem has worsened because even as the village population grows, the water reservoir is not developed to meet increased demand.

“There are residents who have to walk up to an hour to fetch water and even have to bathe in the murky Sungai Lebir because they have no other choice.

“The tap water reservoir is not enough to meet the needs of our nearly 500 residents,” he said.

Kelantan Agriculture, Agro-based industry, Biotechnology, Green Technology and Environment Committee chairman Tuan Mohd Saripudin Tuan Ismail said the state government takes the water shortage issue faced by the two villages seriously.

“We will find ways to resolve the situation … among others, by placing a bigger water tank or expanding the water supply reservoir. I will bring up their request through the Kelantan Water Supply Department … to help solve this problem,” he said. – Bernama, May 21, 2023.