Don’t sacrifice independent oversight for speed in Sabah’s water crisis fixes, says former Water Dept director

KOTA KINABALU, Sept 2 — Former Sabah Water Department director, Datuk Amarjit Singh, has cautioned against prioritizing speed over independent oversight in the state's water supply issues. Amarjit emphasized that while service providers can offer valuable experience and technology, maintaining independence is crucial. He stressed that the concern lies not in the capability of these providers, but rather in potential conflicts of interest when they recommend technologies in which they have a commercial stake.

According to Amarjit, independent assessment plays a vital role in the evaluation process under Malaysia's engineering regulatory framework. Major decisions regarding water supply, such as desalination, water reuse, storage, leak reduction, and watershed protection, should begin with impartial assessments of available options. Amarjit pointed out that companies with a commercial interest in the technologies they recommend could face inherent potential conflicts, highlighting the importance of independent evaluation.

He stressed that consultants should provide independent professional advice, while service providers should bring implemented technologies, specialist knowledge, and operational support. Amarjit reiterated that his comments aimed to stimulate public discussion on infrastructure governance and water security, not targeting any specific company or organization.