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Daily Express
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Work on Tenom dam going smoothly
Published on: Wednesday, July 23, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 23, 2025 Text Size: 'I have been assured there is no cause for worry and everything is progressing smoothly,' said Nizam. Kota Kinabalu: The 187.5-megawatt (MW) Ulu Padas Hydroelectric Project (UPHEP) in Tenom is proceeding smoothly and barring any unforeseen circumstances, it will be completed as scheduled. The detailed design for the UPHEP is nearing completion and several issues, especially relating to concerns initially raised by some 40 families living near the area, had already been resolved. Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan said he has been informed by a reliable source that officials from the company handling the project had on a number of occasions met with the families to allay their fears about the construction of the dam. The villagers are satisfied and there had been no further objections. 'I have been assured there is no cause for worry . . . and everything is progressing smoothly,' said Nizam. Work on the 125-metre high Roller Compact Concrete dam with a reservoir capacity of 25 million litres of water, is expected to begin later this year. The dam is located 9.3km away from the powerhouse where three 60MW Francis Type turbines will generate 187MW of electricity daily. Early this year, Tan Sri TC Goh had praised the State Government for coming up with long-term solutions to the existing water and electricity issues. Goh, who is a member of the Sabah Economic Advisory Council (SEAC), especially cited the UPHEP in Tenom as the answer to the long- standing problem the current GRS-PH Plus government inherited after coming to power in 2020. In fact, a number of initiatives, he said, had already been implemented earlier to address supply disruptions before the UPHEP commences production. The UPHEP is scheduled for completion in December 2030. Goh, who also heads the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) and the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS), said he is confident the UPHEP will proceed smoothly given the reputation and experience of the companies handling it. Meanwhile, Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) Tandek Chief Datuk Dr Janathan Kandok was quoted as saying the UPHEP spoke volumes of the genuine commitment to ensure long-term water and electricity availability. 'This project is not something the State Government promises in view of the upcoming state election. And it is not something you heard from the grapevine. 'It was already launched two years ago, reflecting the farsightedness of the Government in tackling issues faced by the people,' Dr Janathan said. Gamuda Berhad is the total development contractor (TDC) for the power project in partnership with Conlay Construction Sdn Bhd (Conlay). The UPHEP, when completed, is expected to generate an average of 1,052GWh of clean energy yearly - hence, increasing Sabah's current dependable capacity by some 15 per cent. It will also double the renewable energy (RE) mix, supporting Sabah's goal of achieving approximately 35pc RE share in its generation mix by 2035. The scope of work will include design, construction, testing and commissioning of the hydroelectric plant involving a roller-compacted concrete dam, a main and secondary powerhouse, water conveyance system, project access and other permanent facilities such as a 275kV switchyard, 33kV sub-transmission line and workshop, among others. At the launch of the project in 2023, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor had expressed confidence that it would also resolve Sabah's water supply issue in the longer term. The dam is able to release up to 6,000 million litres of water daily. Kota Kinabalu residents only need to use about 500 to 600 million litres of water per day. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
19-07-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Ulu Padas Hydroelectric project proceeding smoothly
Nizam KOTA KINABALU (July 19: The 187.5-megawatt (MW) Ulu Padas Hydroelectric project (UPHEP) in Tenom is proceeding smoothly and barring any unforseen circumstances, it will be completed as scheduled. The detailed design for the UPHEP is nearing completion and several issues, especially relating to concerns initially raised by some 40 families living near the area had already been resolved. Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan says he has been informed by a reliable source that officials from the company handling the project had on a number of occasions met with these families to allay their fears about the construction of the dam. These villagers who live nearby are satisfied and there had been no further objections. 'I have been assured there is no cause for worry . . . and everything is progressing smoothly,'says Nizam. Work on the 125-metre high roller compact concrete dam with a reservoir capacity of 25 million litres of water, is expected to begin later this year. The dam is located 9.3km away from the powerhouse where three 60MW Francis Type turbines will generate 187MW of electricity daily. And early this year, entrepreneur Tan Sri TC Goh had praised the state government for coming up with long-term solutions to the existing water and electricity issues. Goh who is a member of the Sabah Economic Advisory Council (SEAC), especially cited the UPHEP in Tenom as the answer to the long- standing problem the current GRS-PH Plus government inherited after coming to power in 2020. In fact, a number of initiatives, he says, had already been implemented earlier to address supply disruptions before the UPHEP commences production. The UPHEP is scheduled for completion in December 2030. Goh who also heads the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) and the Federal of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS), says he is confident the UPHEP will proceed smoothly given the reputation and experience of the companies handling it. Meanwhile, Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) Tandek chief Datuk Dr Janathan Kandok was quoted as saying the UPHEP spoke volumes of the genuine commitment to ensure long-term water and electricity availability. 'This project is not something the state government promises in view of the upcoming state election. And it is not something you heard from the grapevine. 'It was already launched two years ago, reflecting the farsightedness of the government in tackling issues faced by the people,' Dr Janathan said. Gamuda Berhad is the total development contractor (TDC) for this power project in partnership with Conlay Construction Sdn Bhd (Conlay). The UPHEP when completed, is expected to generate an average of 1,052GWh of clean energy yearly – hence, increasing Sabah's current dependable capacity by some 15 per cent. It will also double the renewable energy (RE) mix, supporting Sabah's goal of achieving approximately 35% RE share in its generation mix by 2035. The scope of work will include design, construction, testing and commissioning of the hydroelectric plant involving a roller-compacted concrete dam, a main and secondary powerhouse, water conveyance system, project access, and other permanent facilities such as a 275kV switchyard, 33kV sub-transmission line, workshop, among others. At the launch of the project in 2023, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor had expressed confidence that it would also resolve Sabah's water supply issue in the longer term. The dam is able to release up to 6,000 million litres of water daily. Kota Kinabalu residents only need to use about 500 to 600 million litres of water per day.
Borneo Post
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Telibong II plant never cancelled by Warisan govt - former director
Amarjit KOTA KINABALU (June 15): The Telibong II water treatment plant was never cancelled by the previous Warisan-led state government, said a former director of the Sabah State Water Department. Datuk Amarjit Singh said the federally funded project was initiated in 2018 to expand capacity from 80 million to 160 million litres per day. He said the original contract for Telibong II was terminated based on a directive from the Federal Ministry of Finance at the time, which applied to public infrastructure projects showing progress of less than 15 per cent. 'At that time, there were three water-related projects under review — Telibong II in Kota Kinabalu, and the Tawau Dam. Of these, only the Tawau Dam project had progressed above the 15 per cent threshold. 'As a result, the Telibong II project was terminated and later re-tendered. Telibong II was subsequently awarded to a new contractor, and construction has continued since,' he said in a statement on Sunday. Amarjit was responding to the recent statement by Datuk Clarence Bongkos Malakun, a member of the Sabah Economic Advisory Council, alleging that the previous Warisan-led state government had sabotaged infrastructure for political convenience by cancelling the Telibong II and Sandakan water treatment plant projects. According to public records, he said the project was already 99.7 per cent complete by late 2024, with remaining works involving pipeline connections and tank installations. Delays were due to implementation coordination, not political interference. As for Sandakan, he said there was never a new water treatment plant planned or cancelled under the state government at the time. The recent focus in Sandakan has been on reactivating existing boreholes, constructing new storage tanks, and stabilising the existing Hilltop water treatment facility, which had temporarily shut down due to raw water shortages. 'There is no record of any shelved or cancelled WTP project in Sandakan, making the accusation factually incorrect. 'With regard to the Tawau Dam, also known as the Cinta Mata water supply project, construction began during the same period and continued with the same contractor. 'The project encountered delays primarily due to the Covid-19 pandemic and logistical challenges but was never halted or cancelled. Public documentation confirms the project remains active, with completion now targeted for 2026. 'These are facts supported by public records and official project status reports. It is important that discussions about Sabah's water infrastructure are grounded in truth, not distorted by political narratives. 'Misinformation only distracts from the real work needed to improve water delivery for the people of Sabah,' said Amarjit who led the State Water Department when Warisan was the state government.
Daily Express
09-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Talks on Sandakan's future development
Published on: Monday, June 09, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jun 09, 2025 Text Size: Walter (centre) flanked by Andrew (left) and Tony. SANDAKAN: A high-level meeting between Sandakan Municipal Council President Walter Kinson and prominent businessman Tan Sri Andrew Liew has set the stage for ambitious economic transformation plans here. Andrew, who serves on the Sabah Economic Advisory Council and chairs the Andamy Group, hosted the municipal leader for discussions centred on positioning Sandakan as a regional economic hub. Advertisement The business leader outlined a comprehensive development vision that capitalises on Sandakan's strategic location as Sabah's eastern gateway. His proposals include deeper economic integration with Indonesia and the Philippines, alongside focus on emerging sectors like green energy, biotechnology and marine industries. 'Sandakan has tremendous potential to lead in high-value sectors that can attract new industries and create sustainable economic growth,' Andrew said during the meeting, which also included MPS member Datuk Tony Liew Ja Hou. The development strategy extends beyond Sandakan's boundaries, with plans designed to stimulate coordinated growth across neighbouring districts including Kinabatangan, Beluran and Telupid. Advertisement Tourism emerged as another key focus area, with discussions on creating a distinctive brand around eco-tourism, cultural heritage and island resort experiences. The approach aims to leverage Sandakan's historical significance, natural ecosystems and wildlife conservation assets. Infrastructure development features prominently in the blueprint, though Andrew pointed out the importance of preserving Sandakan's unique cultural and environmental values throughout the modernisation process. The meeting also addressed human capital development, with both leaders agreeing on the need for local talent cultivation and retention strategies to ensure economic benefits reach the community directly. Walter described the discussions as constructive and forward-thinking, noting the alignment between municipal priorities and private sector capabilities. Both parties characterised the current period as a critical opportunity window for Sandakan's transformation, emphasising the need for coordinated efforts between government, business and community stakeholders to maintain competitiveness in the regional landscape. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
