Residents of Kingfisher Putatan Condominium (KFP) are refusing to pay a more than RM120,000 water bill incurred after private tankers were brought in during a 55-day disruption between April and May.
The residents said they had been left with little choice but to rely on bottled water for drinking, cooking, washing, cleaning and other household needs throughout the prolonged shortage.
They argued that the additional expenses should never have been necessary had the State Water Department (JANS) been able to maintain a reliable water supply to the condominium.
Putatan, located just south of Kota Kinabalu, has experienced recurring water shortages since 2018. During the latest disruption, the condominium developer and management, Hap Seng Land Development and JCA Sdn Bhd, had to arrange private water tankers to meet residents’ basic needs.
However, residents later discovered that the water being delivered by the tankers was actually treated water supplied by JANS — the same source that had failed to reach the condominium through the regular distribution system.
The emergency arrangement significantly increased the cost of obtaining water. Residents were charged RM7.50 per cubic metre, compared with the standard tariff of RM1.30 per cubic metre.
Many residents have since refused to settle the outstanding charges, arguing that they should not be made financially responsible for shortcomings in the public water distribution network.
One resident questioned why consumers should have to pay more for water that originated from the same public utility, saying the additional cost was largely due to transportation and logistical expenses.
The prolonged disruption has also caused growing frustration among residents, with repeated interruptions affecting basic activities such as maintaining hygiene, preparing food and cleaning their homes.
Residents warned that lengthy water shortages could eventually develop into a public health concern, particularly if adequate water for sanitation and personal hygiene remains unavailable.
They are therefore calling for greater accountability from the relevant authorities and stressing that reliable access to clean water and proper sanitation should be treated as a basic public service.
The residents also urged the government and relevant agencies to take concrete steps to prevent similar disruptions from recurring, warning that continued inaction could eventually lead to legal intervention.
For the affected residents, the issue goes beyond an unpaid bill — they believe they should not be forced to bear the financial consequences of a public water supply system that failed to provide them with a basic necessity.
