TAWAU, April 27, 2026 — The Member of the State Assembly (ADUN) for Sri Tanjong, Justin Wong Yung Bin, raised various critical issues concerning the basic needs of the people that have allegedly still not been resolved despite having persisted for several decades.
In his debate speech, he emphasized that issues such as water supply, electricity, and roads are not new matters, but rather continue to recur every year without concrete solutions. This situation raises the question of whether the Assembly is merely trapped in a cycle of debate without tangible results.
Water supply disruptions are becoming more serious.
According to him, water supply disruptions in the Sri Tanjong area are now at a worrying level and occur almost daily. Since January of this year alone, a total of 374 incidents of water disruptions have been recorded based on official notices from the Tawau Water Department.
He explained that the main cause of the problem is outdated infrastructure and insufficient maintenance, including the use of cement asbestos pipes that are over 30 years old and are now at a critical level.
Although the government claims that efforts to replace the pipes are being actively carried out, he questioned the implementation period, which is estimated to take up to 16 years to be fully completed.
At the same time, he also questioned why the state government's cash reserves, reported to be around RM8.6 billion, are not being used to resolve the basic issues of the people.
Roads are not well maintained.
In addition, Justin Wong also highlighted the issue of roads in Tawau, which are described as one of the most consistent complaints received from residents.
He stated that urban areas such as Jalan Kuhara, Jalan Chong Thien Vun, Jalan Timur, Jalan Kubota, Jalan Hotspring, and Jalan Sin On have long not received comprehensive resurfacing.
According to him, there have been implementations of resurfacing work that are not thorough, including cases in Taman Bintang where only a small portion of the road was resurfaced while severely damaged sections were not repaired.
This situation, he said, reflects weaknesses in monitoring and has the potential to cause wastage of public funds.
Flash floods and disaster management questioned.
Meanwhile, he also raised the issue of flash floods that recently hit Tawau, affecting thousands of residents after heavy rain for about an hour with a rainfall of up to 100mm.
He alleged that post-disaster management was unsatisfactory as the affected areas were not cleaned up promptly, in addition to the absence of ministers to assess the situation on the ground.
In fact, it was reported that the municipal council did not have sufficient cleaning machinery, requiring assistance from the fire department for cleanup work.
He also questioned the inequality of assistance to flood victims in Tawau compared to other areas such as Beaufort and Penampang, which received cash aid and food baskets.
Flood mitigation project stalled.
Justin Wong also demanded an explanation regarding the Tawau River Flood Mitigation Project that started in 2019 but was reported to have stalled around 2022 or 2023.
He stated that the delay of the project has resulted in ongoing flood risks, no compensation for victims, and prolonged uncertainty for the people.
The tourism industry affected by global factors.
He also touched on the impact of conflicts in the Middle East on the tourism industry, including flight cancellations due to rising jet fuel costs.
This situation puts pressure on tourism operators, including bus and van operators who are now requesting diesel subsidies after fuel prices increased up to three times.
In this regard, he urged the government to take proactive steps, including expanding direct flights and considering landing fee rebates to attract new routes.
Demand for 40% of Sabah's revenue.
In his closing speech, he raised the issue of the demand for 40% of Sabah's net revenue under Articles 112C and 112D of the Federal Constitution.
According to him, this demand is not merely a request but a right enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and is legally binding.
He emphasized that previous High Court decisions have confirmed the Federal Government's obligation to pay 40% of that revenue to Sabah.
In this regard, he proposed that a special session of the State Assembly be held to discuss this issue in depth, considering its significant implications for the state's financial position.
Concluding his speech, he emphasized that all the issues raised are not political rhetoric, but rather the daily realities faced by the people, and demanded comprehensive answers from the government.
