KOTA KINABALU: The critical water supply in Papar due to the hot weather and drought has forced residents to buy large quantities of bottled drinking water for their daily needs.

       Residents resort to this to carry out their daily activities, such as cooking, washing, and performing religious duties, especially during Ramadan, while waiting for water supply to reach their areas through the relevant authorities.

       In this regard, Consumers Front of Sabah (CFOS) president Nordin Thani reminded traders and retailers, especially in Papar, not to take advantage of the high demand by increasing the prices of bottled drinking water.

       "Do not just think as traders, but also consider retailers and consumers who need water. If there are still stocks (of bottled water), do not hide them," he said when Bernama contacted him on Friday (March 15).

       Checks by Bernama revealed that some Papar folk have to fork out about RM80 a week to buy bottled water for their daily needs, and some grocery shops sell up between 80 and 100 cartons of bottled drinking water daily.

       Nordin urged the authorities to monitor the situation to ensure that no traders and retailers in the area take advantage of the hardship faced by the people.

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       "Even though there have been no complaints from consumers about the increase in the price of bottled water in the market, the situation needs to be monitored to ensure that the price is not so high as to cause concern.

       "The distribution of water supplies by tankers from stakeholders, including the Sabah State Water Department (JANS), must be intensified, especially in the severely affected areas," he added.

       Sabah West Coast Wise Consumers Association president David Chan said JANS was expected to always provide sufficient clean water in the water tankers to Papar residents, especially during this period.

       He said the department's staff would have to monitor the water supply in the affected areas daily to ensure that residents did not raise the same issue every day.

       "I also hope that JANS will take immediate action and not postpone or delay the process of providing clean water to the affected residents," he said.

       He also urged the Sabah government to provide bottled water to residents in the affected areas who do not have access to clean water, especially during Ramadan.

       On March 13, the district disaster management committee announced that Papar district had been declared a drought disaster area. - Bernama