Government Action During Drought Crisis

Sabah is hit by the drought season since the beginning of 2024. The water treatment plants at catchment areas are at the alarming low levels and they are at the brink of drying up because of the drought. The districts which are severely affected by water shortage are Tongod, Tuaran, Papar, Keningau, Semporna, Kota Belud, Tenom, Pitas, Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Kudat and Tawau.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said on 27 March 2024 at the presentation of assistance to the Fire and Rescue Department at Menara Kinabalu that he has directed water supply to be distributed to 58,080 household heads for 355 villages in 12 districts throughout the state which are most seriously affected by the prolonged drought. The State Government has dispensed RM7.5 million to initiate action; and it has allocated RM267,444 to the Fire and Rescue Department for purchasing additional equipment including portable pump and motorised sling pumps. The Malaysia Fire and Rescue Department has mobilised 319 firefighters throughout Sabah.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MET Malaysia) will conduct cloud seeding operations to create rainfalls. The National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) will fund the operations; MET Malaysia will provide personnel and technical assistance; and the Malaysia Royal Air Force will provide logistics support in collaboration with the Internal affairs and Research Office of the Chief Minister’s Department. As at March 2024, a total of 1,392 cases of forest and bush fires have been reported to have ravaged 9,392.23 acres throughout the state.