Water Dept workers 'feel unsafe in squatter areas'

SABAH RCI The Sabah State Water Department has concerns over the safety of its workers when they enter squatter areas to cut illegal connections.

According to is chief engineer for the distribution and leakage department, Quirine @ Quirinos Jokinol, this is because threats have been made against its workers.

“Safety is an issue, so we would prefer if the operations are done together with the police and local council.

“Based on our experience, our enforcement officers receive threats to their safety when they enter such areas to disconnect illegal connections,” he told the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into illegal migrants in Sabah.

He said that the bulk of the problems of illegal connections are in squatter areas in the east coast towns of Sandakan, Lahad Datu, Semporna and Tawau.

Previously, a local council officer from Kunak, located between Lahad Datu and Semporna, said there are parts of the squatter areas which they do not enter due to threats to their personal safety.

Half a million ringgit in losses in 2012

Meanwhile, Quirine @ Quirinos said that the department incurred a total RM780,244 in losses due to water stolen through illegal connections in Sabah from 2008 to 2012.

This does not include “unnecessary costs” like repairs and pipe replacements incurred due to the illegal connections.

In 2012, he said, losses in ringgit terms plus unnecessary costs came up to close to half a million ringgit, and the number is growing over the years.

Asked by conducting officer Azmi Ariffin, he said that the department cannot charge a compound for those who use water from illegal connections as they are undocumented.

“To issue compounds to them, they will need some personal identification,” he said.

He added that they usually cut the connections at the distribution pipe and do not trace it to the homes, and if they do, the residents are not around or have “run away”.

Meanwhile, witness Chia Oi Len testified that her old identity card number was used by an unknown individual to open a bank account.

Chia said she was informed of this by a Maybank officer when she tried to set up an account in Kota Kinabalu in 2007.

“I don’t know who this person is, but the account was opened in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. I then lodged a police report,” the business owner said.

Chia, 60, said she had previously held an old “blue plastic identity card” but had changed it to a later version with 12 digits, and surrendered the old IC to the National Registration Department.

She said she has had no problems upgrading her ICs to the latest version and now holds a MyKad.