PRESS RELEASE: Don’t Take El Niño Warning
Lightly — Wong Urges Immediate Action
KOTA
KINABALU, 25 March 2026: Parti Warisan Vice President Datuk Junz Wong
has called on the GRS State Government and relevant ministries to
treat the warning of a potential strong El Niño event seriously and
to act immediately to safeguard Sabah from its likely adverse
impacts.
Citing
recent scientific projections indicating a high probability of a
strong El Niño developing by mid-2026, Wong stressed that the state
cannot afford complacency, especially given Sabah’s existing
vulnerabilities.
“As
a state whose economy remains closely tied to agriculture, Sabah
stands at significant risk from prolonged dry spells and extreme heat
conditions associated with El Niño,” said Wong, who is also the
Tanjung Aru Assemblyman and former Sabah Agriculture and Food
Industries Minister.
He
warned that failure to prepare could lead to disruptions in food
production, increased costs for farmers, and broader economic
repercussions.
Wong
also highlighted that Sabah is still grappling with persistent water
supply issues affecting multiple districts, including Kota Kinabalu,
Penampang, Putatan, Kinarut, Kuala Penyu, Sepanggar, Tawau and
Sandakan.
“In
such a context, the prospect of a strong El Niño makes it even more
urgent for the authorities to ramp up efforts to address this
perennial and pressing water supply problem. Reliable water access is
not only critical for households, but also for uninterrupted business
operations, including the tourism and hospitality sectors,” he
said.
He
further pointed out that many rural areas in Sabah are already prone
to prolonged drought, making early intervention and preparedness
measures even more crucial.
“Proactive
planning must begin now — from strengthening water management
systems and storage capacity, to supporting farmers with adaptive
measures and ensuring contingency plans are in place,” he added.
Wong
emphasised that climate warnings should not be treated as distant
possibilities, but as actionable signals requiring immediate policy
response.
“The
cost of inaction will be far greater than the cost of preparedness.
Sabah must not wait until the situation deteriorates before
responding,” he concluded.
End
Press Statement Released by:
YB
Datuk Junz Wong
Party
Warisan Vice President cum N22 Tanjung Aru Assemblyman
Contact:
017-8188801
