PAPAR, SABAH, MALAYSIA January 9, 2026 – Papar Member of Parliament Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali yesterday lodged a police report at Kinarut Police Station, suspecting sabotage of water supply infrastructure that has caused critical disruptions in Mukim Kinarut/Kawang since late December 2025.
Armizan, who is also Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, said the Sabah State Water Department (JANS) reported that a special task force sent to the site found interference with sluice valves at two JANS booster pump stations supplying the affected mukim. The interference allegedly involved diversion of water supply to areas outside Mukim Kinarut/Kawang, including beyond the Papar district boundary. This has further reduced the already limited supply to scheduled rationing areas (until the completion of Kogopon Water Treatment Plant 2), causing severe hardship to residents.
“Based on this report, I decided last night to lodge a police report myself. The purpose is to request the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) to investigate actions that appear to involve elements of betrayal and sabotage against public infrastructure/utilities, resulting in public harm,” Armizan said.
Although JANS has committed to conducting an internal investigation, Armizan maintained that a parallel PDRM probe is necessary due to potential criminal elements. He hopes PDRM will take immediate follow-up action.
Special Meeting Convened
The issue was discussed in a special meeting chaired by the Sabah State Secretary (with approval from the Chief Minister) on the morning of 8 January, which Armizan attended along with the State Assemblymen for Kawang, Limbahau, and Pantai Manis. The meeting addressed short-, medium-, and long-term solutions, reviewed the root causes of the disruption as explained by JANS, and received updates on the progress of two ongoing water supply projects in Papar.
Among the immediate measures agreed upon:
1. Implementation of a cross-connection (inter-connection) between the pipeline network from the main tank of Kogopon Water Treatment Plant (P1) directly to the main Kawang tank (P3). This will allow treated water to be channelled straight from the plant to the P3 tank supplying Mukim Kinarut/Kawang, bypassing longer routes including the Melinsung main tank (R22) network. Work begins today, Friday, 9 January 2026, and is targeted for completion within two weeks.
2. Increasing the treatment capacity of the existing Kogopon 1 Water Treatment Plant by 10% from its current maximum of 40 million litres per day (MLD) as an interim measure until Kogopon 2 Water Treatment Plant (additional 40 MLD) is completed in the fourth quarter of 2026. (The upgrade project began in August 2023 with a three-year timeline.) This capacity boost will require upgrading and replacing three raw water pumps at the plant.
The State Secretary has committed to personally monitoring progress on the ground.
Water tankers will continue to deliver supplies in collaboration with JANS, Jetama, local authorities, the Papar MP’s office, and the Kawang State Assemblyman’s office.
No Immediate Response to Warisan Statement
Armizan also referred to a media statement issued on 6 January 2026 by the former Papar MP from Parti Warisan, but said he has no intention of responding at this stage.
“My focus now is on finding solutions to ease the people’s hardship. The public certainly does not want to hear political rhetoric at this time.
“For now, I will give him and his allies space to ‘feast’ on manipulating the situation. Once the water supply is stabilised and the people’s difficulties alleviated, I will provide a comprehensive response, including highlighting his and his party’s major contribution to the current hardship faced by the people,” he added.
Residents of Mukim Kinarut/Kawang continue to face severe water disruptions, with many relying on tanker deliveries and alternative sources.
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