PAPAR, SABAH January 16, 2026 – Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living and Member of Parliament for Papar, this evening inspected the progress of the pipeline interconnection works in the Papar district together with the Assemblyman for Kawang, Assemblyman for Limbahau, District Officer, water engineers, and the contractor team.
The visit aimed to monitor the status of the interconnection project linking the main tank P1 at the Kogopon Water Treatment Plant (LRA) directly to the main tank P3 in Kawang. This measure is an immediate mitigation action following the decision made at a special meeting chaired by the State Secretary on 8 January 2026 to address the serious water supply disruptions in Mukim Kinarut and Kawang that began since late December 2025.
The Kogopon LRA Upgrade Project (Kogopon 2), which will add 40 Million Litres per Day (MLD) capacity, commenced in August 2023 and is scheduled for completion in August 2026. However, given the escalating severity of the supply disruptions while the project is still ongoing, the meeting decided on an immediate temporary 10% capacity increase (approximately 3.5–4 MLD) at the existing Kogopon LRA (also 40 MLD) until Kogopon 2 is fully completed.
This additional capacity will be channelled directly from P1 to P3 to meet critical needs in Mukim Kinarut/Kawang. The interconnection will significantly shorten the water supply distance from 33 km to just 10.3 km, thereby improving efficiency and reducing the prolonged water rationing issues in the affected areas.
The implementation works involve:
- Interconnection of existing pipeline networks from P1 to P3 at two locations;
- Replacement of valves at the intake of the existing Kogopon LRA;
- Replacement of water pumps at the existing plant.
Field works are being carried out continuously 24 hours a day (temporarily halted only during heavy rain), having started on 9 January 2026, with full completion targeted by 24 January 2026. The valve replacement process is expected to require a temporary plant shutdown of approximately 10 hours, starting late night on 20 January 2026 (subject to weather conditions). This shutdown may affect several areas within the Papar District, and the Sabah Water Department (JANS) will issue an official notice in the near future.
Armizan emphasized that this immediate mitigation effort is expected to resolve the severe water supply disruptions and end long-standing water rationing in Mukim Kinarut/Kawang, while awaiting the long-term solution with the completion of LRA Kogopon 2 in the fourth quarter of 2026.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to doing its utmost to alleviate the hardships faced by local residents for an extended period, in line with ongoing efforts to address essential utility issues in the Papar parliamentary constituency.
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