SABAH will use all its resources to go after the people stealing treated water, Chief Minister Hajiji Noor said.

“Arrest them and charge them in court. We also want factories found stealing water to be brought to court instead of merely being issued fines,” he said in Kota Kinabalu following a cabinet meeting yesterday.

He said illegal pipe connections were the main cause of a 60% loss in revenue for Sabah.

Hajiji said the state cabinet had summoned the Water Department for a briefing following the student-led protest, #KamiMahuAir Sabah, last week, over water supply disruptions.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) had experienced a two-day water disruption because of a burst pipe.

Hajiji said the Sabah Water Department had been supplying UMS with four million to seven million litres of water daily.

“I have asked the UMS vice-chancellor to find out why the water is not reaching the students,” he said.

The cabinet was informed that the water supply to UMS had dwindled because of many illegal connections in five villages.

The villages sit on disputed land adjacent to UMS.

“I want the Water Department’s enforcement team to disconnect these illegal connections and take stern action against the culprits,” he said.

Hajiji also proposed the installation of a 500-litre tank for the villagers so that they do not attempt to reconnect to the water mains. – June 20, 2024.