RANAU STAGED PEACEFUL DEMO ON NO WATER SUPPLY

Ranau staged peaceful demo on no water supply

RANAU August 11, 2012: A group of 60 representatives from four kampungs in Ranau today staged a 15-minute sit-in peaceful demonstration near here in a protest of what they called the ruling party's "Janji Tak Ditepati" or "false promise" on providing water supply to them.

They claimed the kampung folks had been without supply of clean water for years and things got messier as the only iron water tank that used to store water from Mesilau river has rusted with knee's deep mud and rust inside it, having never been maintained or cleaned.

Ly J. Sya Welliam (ed: Ly J. Welliam), the spokesman for the group said, the water tank could no longer store water and that many of about 3,000 in the four kampungs had always been without clean water.

"We are forced to use rain water... some of us have to buy raw water and bring home every now and then for our domestic chores. Until when must we wait for clean water supply? It is almost 50 years of independence this month..." he said.

The four kampungs involved in the protest held at Kampung Kibbas roadside here today are Paka 1, Koporingan, Purak Ogis and Kibbas itself.

They held their peaceful sit-in demonstration under the watchful eyes of a group of policemen from the district police.

They had earlier marched from Kibbas Siba carrying three big banners and various placards that register both their frustration and queries at the government of the day.

Meanwhile a protestor from Kg Kibbas, John Gilong, 43, claimed various efforts had been made to get Keranaan Assemblyman, Datuk Masidi Manjun, to resolve their plight but to no avail until now.

Pic show the demo in Kibbas Ranau held today.. in black spec with native vest is Jalibin Paidi

while the pic of a man speaking is of Ly J Sya Welliam

"We urge our assemblyman Masidi to come and resolve our problem of no water supply... We are only about a few kilometres from Ranau town but this problem has been going on for years," he said adding that there are estimated to be about 1,200 registered voters from the areas.

The State Reform Party (STAR)'s Ranau Head, Jalibin Paidi, who was at the scene with the protestors, also called on the government especially Masidi to really look into solving the water problem in the four kampungs as the area is not without natural raw water supply nearby.

"The least the ruling leaders could do is identify the problem and push for immediate and long term solution. The situation right now is unacceptable as these kampungs are near the town and many of the houses are just near the main road.

"STAR is symphatetic with these kampungs' folks, and we are trying our best to get their voices and plight heard by the authorities," he said adding that some muslim families in the kampungs face a gloomy Aidilfitri with the continuously no water problem.

They also wanted the visiting Prime Minister Najib Razak to be enlighten about their problem which they believe is not unique to Ranau.

By Jalibin Paidi

Mr Jalibin Paidi is State Reform Party (STAR) Ranau chief