"Sabah’s Water Woes Politicized and Dr. Faisal Luqman’s Unresolved Housing Injustice: A Call for Accountability"

 

Here is an article in Sinar Harian dated 18.7.2025.

This statement is by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Ir. Shahelmey Yahya. You may read the article here.

Here is the first paragraph:

The actions of certain parties in turning the water supply issue into political capital ahead of the Sabah State Election (PRN) have been described as unfair and potentially damaging to the state's image. Deputy Chief Minister and Sabah Public Works Minister, Datuk Ir. Shahelmey Yahya, said such an approach does not help resolve the people's problems and may confuse the public with inaccurate narratives.

The politicization of Sabah’s water supply issues ahead of PRN17 may be both unfair and damaging to our state’s reputation.

On a separate but equally pressing matter, I’ve reached out to YB Datuk Shahelmey regarding the unresolved plight of Dr. Faisal Luqman. His house in Kota Kinabalu, issued an occupancy certificate in October 2019, remains uninhabitable due to a fraudulent as-built survey submitted to DBKK. The driveway is excessively steep, deviating from the approved development plan, rendering the house vacant for years. Despite my emails to YB Shahelmey on August 23 and November 7, 2023, and his acknowledgment on August 28, no progress has been made.

Equally concerning is the lack of response from Ms. Fung Yun Ling of the Sabah Surveyors Board (Lembaga Juruukur Sabah), who dismissed my concerns by suggesting I park on the road and walk up the driveway. A survey conducted on June 28, 2023, in the presence of eight LJS board members has yielded no results.

Similarly, Datuk Sr Bernard Liew Chau Min, Director of Lands and Surveys Sabah, has ignored my emails despite his department’s stated commitment to public engagement and accountability. His message on the JTU website boasts of two-way communication and service to the people, yet these seem to be hollow promises. Civil servants who fail to deliver should not be rewarded with lifelong pensions while issues like Dr. Faisal’s remain unresolved.

YB Datuk Shahelmey, I earnestly urge you to take immediate action to address this injustice and hold the responsible parties accountable. The people of Sabah deserve transparency and results, not empty rhetoric.

You may read my emails to Shahelmey Yahya in 2023 HERE.