{
  "id": 1417149,
  "title": "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",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/no-water-for-nearly-two-months-then-a-rm120-000-bill-putatan-condo",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-17T04:25:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/08/17/no-water-for-nearly-two-months-then-a-rm120000-bill-putatan-condo-dwellers-ask-why-pay-for-water-sabah-water-utility-was-already-treating/231648"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "KOTA KINABALU, Aug 17 — Residents of Kingfisher Putatan Condominium (KFP) are refusing to pay the more than RM120,...",
  "key_points": [
    "Nearly 55 days without water for Putatan condo residents",
    "Condo bills total over RM120,000 after water crisis",
    "Residents question paying for JANS-treated imported water"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Residents being billed for water they couldn't use due to utility failures raises concerns about accountability and fairness in public water distribution costs.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "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",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/no-water-for-nearly-two-months-then-a-rm120-000-bill-putatan-condo-1418413",
        "published": "2026-08-17T04:25:58.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}