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Borneo Herald
2.00PM MYT, 1-11-2025
KENINGAU : Parti Warisan Bingkor Coordinator Benedict Martin Gunir strongly rejects Papar MP Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali’s recent claims that Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) is more effective than Warisan in resolving Sabah’s water issues.
Benedict described Armizan’s remarks as misleading, politically motivated, and an attempt to take credit for projects that were planned and initiated under Warisan’s administration.
Warisan clarified that the key water projects mentioned by Armizan — the Kogopon Water Treatment Plant Phase 2 upgrade and the Kg Kabang intake upgrade — were conceptualized, approved, and set in motion during Warisan’s tenure (2018–2020).
Warisan was the first government in decades to seriously address Sabah’s dilapidated water infrastructure, implementing reforms to accelerate procurement and management despite inherited systemic neglect.
The party further explained that the delays Armizan blamed solely on Warisan were actually linked to federal-level processes, including the Notice of Change (NOC) on project costs — a matter managed by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning Unit (EPU) — and therefore beyond the state government’s direct control.
Warisan also reaffirmed that funding for these projects had already been secured under the 12th Malaysia Plan, prior to the GRS administration, directly disproving Armizan’s claim that GRS had to “secure” new funds.
While GRS highlights project progress, independent sources confirm that the Kogopon II Plant is only about 52% complete as of October 2025, with an expected completion in 2026.
This reality contradicts Armizan’s portrayal of rapid and effective project delivery, underscoring that the work remains ongoing — not an overnight success story.
Warisan also rejects the selective focus on Papar as a representation of Sabah’s entire water crisis, which continues to affect many districts across the state. The party stresses the need for comprehensive, statewide institutional reforms.
It is worth noting that Warisan had already begun reforms to curb political appointments and enhance transparency within the State Water Department — a process that appears to have been abandoned under GRS.
Benedict further pointed out the irony of Armizan’s “stop politicizing” remark, noting that his own statement was politically driven and timed just weeks before the Sabah state elections.
“This is not about politics — it’s about truth and accountability. Sabahans deserve clean water, not recycled election propaganda,” he said.
Warisan demands that GRS immediately publish full and verifiable data on all water infrastructure projects statewide, including detailed timelines, costs, and progress reports.
Sabahan citizens, he said, deserve transparency and accountable governance, not selective press releases designed for electioneering.#~Borneo Herald™
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