SABAH has been asked to formulate an enactment that regulates the water supply services industry in the state to ensure separation between its regulatory and operational functions.

       Environment and Water Minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said this would also enable the establishment of a regulatory body that could help ensure the water services industry in Sabah could operate more effectively.

       “At the Federal level, the Water Services Industry Act and the National Water Services Commission Act have been enacted to regulate the water supply services industry in the peninsula and Labuan.

       “However, these two acts are not applicable to Sabah,” he said during the Ministers’ Question Time in reply to Datuk Seri Madius Tangau (Upko-Tuaran) on the Federal Government’s efforts to address water supply issues in Sabah.

       Tuan Ibrahim said the Federal Government – through the Water and Environment Ministry (Kasa) – was responsible for providing loan financing for the implementation of water supply projects in urban areas in Sabah.

       He said a total of RM2.5bil in loans had been approved since the Eighth Malaysia Plan until the 10th Malaysia Plan, in addition to another RM2.2bil under the 12th Malaysia Plan.

       “Allocation in the form of grants were also given through the Rural Development Ministry for rural water supply projects,” he added. — Bernama