No water for nearly two months, then a RM120,000 bill — Putatan condo dwellers ask why pay for water Sabah water utility was already treating

KOTA KINABALU, Aug 17 — Putatan condominium residents in Kingfisher are refusing to pay over RM120,000 in water bills after being without water for 55 days between April and May. Some resorted to buying bottled water for daily needs, deeming the extra costs unnecessary if the State Water Department (JANS) had fulfilled its duty.

The condominium's developer and management had to import water from private tankers due to JANS' failure to deliver, but residents found out the water was JANS-treated. They are questioning why consumers should bear the financial burden of public water distribution system failures. The crisis has caused sanitation and hygiene issues, with residents demanding accountability from authorities to ensure reliable access to clean water and sanitation.