T C Goh
KOTA KINABALU: The Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) has hoped that besides helping Sabah to resolve ongoing water supply problem, the Federal Government could also give due attention and assistance to the State Government to solve the other pressing issues, like dilapidated public infrastructures, roads and inconsistent power supply.
Its President Tan Sri T C Goh said that of late the state has been facing power outages quite regularly, while the public roads are extensively in bad conditions and urgently needed the Federal Government’s allocations to address the problems.
He further noted that as compared to the neighbouring Sarawak state, the progress of the Pan Borneo Highways in Sabah is also far behind schedule.
He said this while welcoming the Federal Government’s agreement to provide RM320.25 million assistance to expedite and resolve Sabah’s chronic water woes. This was revealed by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor following a meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya yesterday. Hajiji was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister III cum Works Minister Datuk ri Shahelmey Yahya, State Secretary Datuk Seri Sr Safar Untong and other senior state officials who briefed the Prime Minister on Sabah’s plans to address the water supply problem.
Hajiji also expressed confidence that the RM320.25mil assistance would help the State Government implement short-term plans to solve the state’s water woes.
Goh, who is also President of the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) was commenting on the series of favourable announcements made by the Prime Minister during his recent official visit to Sabah. This included allocation of RM3 million to Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) to help solve water supply problems at the university, the redevelopment of 49 units of derelict houses into 47 units of public quarters and a transit house for the Ministry of Defence Sabah branch in Taman Lok Kawi worth RM25 million, and a RM1mil allocation for the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA), which organise the state-level Kaamatan Festival.
“This truly reflected well on the Prime Minister’s visionary, pragmatic and people-friendly attitude,” he said.
He also noted that Anwar was the second Prime Minister who attended the state Kaamatan Festival, as well as the Gawai Festival in Sarawak, in history, which clearly showed his concern and commitment to promote greater national unity and racial harmony in Malaysia.
Meanwhile, Goh, who is also President of the Federation of Sabah and Labuan Hokkien Associations (FSLHA), also supported the proposed plans to build two water dams in Papar and Sipitang, as a long-term plan to address water supply problem besieging Sabah.
However, he emphasised that the proposed plans should be carefully and properly planned by first conducting a proper and thorough environmental impacts study, so as to ensure that the construction of the dams would not cause irreparable environmental harms, or potential disaster, in future.
He also welcomed the Prime Minister’s call for setting up of a Special Joint Task Force between the Federal and State Governments to focus on solving the pressing water supply shortage issue.
