SANDAKAN: Frustration boiled over in this Sabah east coast district on Monday (Sept 15) as residents staged a flash mob to protest a water supply cut that has entered its third day.
Services at the town’s only hospital have reportedly been disrupted as a result of the cut.
Participants stood at busy intersections in the town centre with placards reading “Hey Menteri, rakyat melihat kalian!” (Hey Ministers, the people are watching you!) and “Air x Karan x” (No water, no electricity), drawing the attention of motorists.
Activist Asrin Utong, 30, said the silent protest was held in solidarity with Sabahans hit by recurring water shortages and long blackouts.
“This flash mob was organised by a group of us to highlight the struggles of Sabahans who continue to suffer from water and electricity disruptions,” he said.
From 2pm to 4pm at the Sandakan town centre and Indah Jaya, participants carried placards with messages such as “Air & Karan Hak Asasi Rakyat” (Water & Electricity are Basic Rights) and “Tiada Air, Tiada Karan” (No Water, No Electricity).
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“The aim was to respond to the recent east coast power outage and the never-ending water problems.
“We want full government commitment to basic infrastructure. Protests are also part of democracy, a way for people to voice frustrations,” he added.
The outage, caused by a power disruption at the Segaliud water treatment plant, has left families and businesses dry since late last week.
Many queued for bottled water, with some resorting to using mineral water to bathe.
The crisis has also crippled the Duchess of Kent Hospital, Sandakan’s only hospital, forcing shutdowns of operating theatres, the haemodialysis unit, and support services.
According to a memo from hospital director Dr Fahmie Othman sighted by The Star, water pressure remained at 0.0 bar, with no inflow despite tanker trips by the state Water Department, third-party contractors, and the Sandakan Municipal Council.
“Despite maximising tanker deliveries, the supply is still unable to meet the hospital’s daily needs,” the memo read.
With building chillers switched off, only one emergency theatre remains open.
The haemodialysis unit is running at half capacity, unable to take in extra patients, while the laundry has shut completely, leaving wards short of clean linens.
The canteen has also suspended services.
Emergency measures include postponing elective surgeries, rationing linens, maximising alcohol-based hand rubs, and shutting non-clinical facilities to conserve water.
If the situation persists, the hospital warned it will face severe restrictions on surgery, dialysis and sanitation.
Meanwhile, Libaran MP Datuk Suhaimi Nasir urged the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah government to act immediately, calling the crisis a long-standing problem that has repeatedly burdened Sandakan residents.
“This is not the first time. It is a recurring issue that has paralysed daily life and yet no decisive action has been taken,” he said.
Suhaimi said he had raised the matter many times in both the Sabah State Assembly and Parliament, and also called for federal allocations to upgrade Sandakan’s water system.
He said funds had been channelled, but poor implementation and the failure to act proactively were disappointing.
“The government should have had a contingency plan for breakdowns at the Segaliud plant. The people are not asking for promises, but concrete action to end this recurring crisis,” he added.
