Special task force formed to resolve Kelantan, Sabah's water supply woes - Anwar

PUTRAJAYA - A special task force has been formed to look for solutions to the water supply woes in Kelantan and Sabah, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.

Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said the setting up of the task force was agreed upon in a special meeting involving Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Nor at Perdana Putra here today.

He said the task force, which will be membered by representatives from the Finance Ministry, the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry as well as both state governments, will take on the role of preparing strategies to resolve the water supply issues in the two states.

"Our responsibility is to ensure the people have access to clean water as soon as possible,” he told reporters after handing over keys to the MADANI Dalur housing for civil servants here today.

The prime minister said the special meeting today also discussed several immediate measures needed to be taken, including on disrupted and unclean water supply.

"(This water supply problem) needs early measures to be taken and we will provide some funding... it requires huge long-term and medium-term projects,” he said.

When asked what had been raised during the special meeting, Anwar said Sabah for example had brought up the need for a soft loan for one of its dam projects.

Anwar stressed that the state governments must be able to work together with the Federal government and accept decisions made by both.

"No question of working in silo, we need huge funds and (we) must ensure we deliver,” he said.

Anwar had previously said that the federal government will try to resolve the water supply problems in Kelantan and Sabah although it involves huge expenditure. - BERNAMA