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NDTV
a day ago
- Business
- NDTV
Delhi Orders 20-Year Audit of Arbitration Cases Amid Public Funds Misuse Concern
New Delhi: The Delhi government has ordered an audit of arbitration cases involving claims of over Rs 1 crore filed against it in the last two decades in a move to tighten financial oversight and plug legal loopholes. The directive, issued to the Public Works Department (PWD), Water Department, and Irrigation and Flood Control Department, is aimed at bringing transparency and accountability in the handling of public money. "This audit is about learning from the past," a senior government official said. "It will help us understand the extent of financial loss and ensure there's no repeat of such lapses in the future." The departments have been asked to submit detailed, year-wise data on arbitration cases above Rs 1 crore. This includes how many cases were decided against the government, the reasons cited in the awards, how much was paid out or lost, and whether appeals were filed before disbursing the money. The move comes in response to what officials describe as "mounting concerns" over how departments have frequently chosen to settle disputes rather than pursue legal remedies, especially in civil and infrastructure contracts. In many such cases, large sums were reportedly paid out without fully exploring legal recourse. In a decisive step, the government has now barred any payments in arbitration cases where the ruling goes against the state, unless all legal options have been exhausted and formal clearance is obtained from the Law Department. Officials say that the audit is more of a course correction. As part of a broader policy shift, the PWD has removed the arbitration clause from all its new contracts. This reform, officials said, is meant to curb opportunistic claims and enforce more rigorous legal discipline in dispute resolution. The change comes in the direction of Delhi's PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, who said it was time to draw a line on unchecked settlements. "Public funds must be treated as sacred," Mr Verma said. "For years, departments settled claims through arbitration without exhausting legal options; this won't continue. We are auditing two decades of arbitration history to identify who was responsible and why legal battles were surrendered. Importantly, I have now removed the arbitration clause from PWD contracts. If there's a dispute, let it go to court. No easy money through arbitration anymore." Officials familiar with the matter say the audit will likely uncover systemic issues in how departments have handled legal disputes, and could lead to long-term structural reforms in contract enforcement and financial management. While some contractors have raised concerns that the removal of arbitration may slow down dispute resolution and increase costs, government sources maintain that the change was overdue. "This reform forces everyone to come to the table with stronger documentation and legal backing," the official added. The review is expected to conclude later this year and may feed into broader legal reforms across departments engaged in public works and infrastructure contracts.
Daily Express
5 days ago
- General
- Daily Express
Kuala Penyu village still denied piped water, power
Published on: Saturday, July 26, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jul 26, 2025 By: Lorena Binisol Text Size: Many depend on rain water due to no consistent supply. Kota Kinabalu: Residents of Kg Kiaru continue to grapple with long-standing issues related to water and, at times, electricity supply, a problem that had persisted for generations. Edith Kimtuan, a former resident who moved out in 1973, recalled that living without basic amenities was once considered normal. Now, in 2025, she is shocked that the situation remains unchanged. 'Why is this still happening in Sabah? We are rich in resources, yet the people are suffering. Water is the most basic need for daily life, and electricity comes second. I'm surprised these facilities are still unavailable in my hometown,' she said. She has since lived in Singapore after getting a job there. When she returns for holidays to visit her family, she finds it hard to believe the situation remains the same. The lack of infrastructure had led to a gradual migration from the village, with families across four generations slowly relocating in search of better living conditions. However, she noted that despite the outflow, many residents particularly those living along the coastal area, still remained in the village. She said some houses have large water tanks next to them, but most are empty. She also mentioned that even a Timorese labourer, who used to tap rubber for the family, had left the village, saying his hometown in Indonesia is far better off than Kuala Penyu. She was informed by a government-related official that there weren't enough villagers to justify the delivery of regular water and electricity services in Kuala Penyu. 'But if there were consistent water supply and stable electricity, people would definitely return to their hometowns. It's this lack of basic necessities that drives them away,' she said. She also saw a video clip of Assemblyman Datuk Limus Jury acknowledging the issue but claiming it only affects residents living on higher ground, while those on lower terrain are not impacted, a statement she felt did not reflect the actual situation. Another resident, who declined to be named, insisted that many villagers have been without clean water for decades. They are only occasionally supplied with water by the Water Department. He said that many residents have stopped voicing complaints about the road conditions. Despite numerous roads remaining unsealed, the community had gradually adapted to them. 'What's most critical now is access to clean water, it's a basic necessity for everyday life,' he emphasized. Despite repeatedly seeking assistance from the government, particularly for a more prominent and long-term solution their pleas have continued to fall on deaf ears. 'It's not only the high ground. We've all been struggling. The water supply is unreliable, and electricity outages are frequent. It's frustrating,' the resident said. * 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
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Replace Water Department with new professional water body - Yong
Yong Teck Lee KOTA KINABALU (July 19): Former Chief Minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee has called for the total replacement of the entire Sabah Water Department with a new Sabah water statutory body. He said it has become necessary because it has become increasingly evident that the basic cause of the water supply problems in Sabah is the Sabah Water Department itself. 'Sabah has ample water resources, from our rivers, from rain and even the sea. Over the decades, billions have been spent on water supply. We even have a Sabah Water Supply Enactment 2003 that confers extensive powers to this important government department. Yet, we have been unable to solve this most basic utility called water that is needed for daily livelihood,' he said in a statement on Saturday. Yong said at a pre-council session of Sabah assemblypersons in April 2023 the Chief Minister (who chaired the meeting) was visibly upset about the perennial water supply problems. The current Minister of Public Works had just been appointed to the portfolio. 'At that pre-council meeting, I said that the minister should not rely on the Sabah Water Department for solutions because the problem is the Sabah Water Department. The minister and the Chief Minister must look and search beyond the Water Department for solutions because there are viable and cost-effective solutions. 'The Chief Minister sounded stressed by the stubborn persistence of water supply problems. I don't know whether my voice was heard or whether my views were heeded. I have done my research. As a successful plaintiff in the Water Department case of 2019, I have done extensive research on the notorious Water Department and its decades of failures. It is really getting ridiculous when the minister himself had to instruct (as reported) the Water Department to investigate why, even after the new Kasigui water treatment plant with an additional five million litres per day, there is still a shortfall in water supply in Putatan and Kota Kinabalu. 'The Water Department then found that the problem was the distribution network. First of all, the Water Department need not have waited for ministerial instructions before taking action. Secondly, the distribution and pipes problems have been known for many years. The Water Department was not formed yesterday. The Sabah Water Supply Enactment 2023 was enacted 22 years, that is one generation of Sabahans ago!' he said. Moving forward, Yong said the replacement of the Water Department will involve an amendment to the Water Supply Enactment 2003 by the dissolution of the Water Department and reconstitute a professional body. 'There are many good, conscientious professional water engineers and administrators in Sabah who can do a much better job than the Water Department. The new water supply statutory body can be led by tough professionals and with proven administrators who come with a mission and passion to finally solve Sabah's water supply problems. The ball is now in the court of the Sabah Government,' he added.
Borneo Post
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Water supply to stabilise soon – Shahelmey
Shahelmey with the recipients of the STPM 2024 Excellent Student award and I-Boards. PUTATAN (July 18): Works Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya expressed confidence that the water supply in Kota Kinabalu, Putatan and surrounding areas will stabilise with the completion of phase two of the Telibong 2 water project. He said the ongoing challenges, including ageing infrastructure, burst pipes and water theft, are being addressed, and assured that water supply recovery will show significant improvement by the end of this month — about two weeks from now. 'I urge the public not to make baseless assumptions regarding water disruptions. While legitimate concerns are valid and should be voiced, creating AI-generated videos that attack the government tarnishes the image of our administration and damages the state's reputation,' he said. Shahelmey emphasised that the water supply issue is not new but stems from legacy problems due to delayed implementation of water development projects in Sabah. He was speaking after receiving complaints about water supply disruptions affecting hotels and shopping malls in Kota Kinabalu and Putatan. 'Yes, I received complaints from hotel operators in Kota Kinabalu two weeks ago about low water pressure at certain times of the day. The Water Department informed me that this was due to high demand and some technical faults which caused delays in restoration,' he said. However, he noted improvements in the past few days. In the morning today, hotel operators confirmed that water pressure was gradually returning to normal. Shahelmey attributed this to the recent completion of the second phase of the Telibong 2 project, which was finished two days ago. 'Testing, flushing and commissioning began on Wednesday afternoon, and by Thursday evening, some water had already reached Inanam. This signals improvements in treated water supply for northern Kota Kinabalu, and eventually to Kota Kinabalu and Putatan,' he said. He also highlighted a critical situation in Putatan on Monday due to pipe bursts near Servay Putatan and minor technical issues in the distribution network. 'I was quite disappointed because the new UWSS project in Kasigui, with a five million-litre daily capacity, is already operational and producing three to four million litres daily. Yet, this additional supply wasn't reaching consumers,' he said. He has since instructed the Water Department to identify and resolve the technical issues and implement recovery plans. He noted that water pressure in greater Putatan has started to improve since yesterday evening. 'I hope this trend continues and becomes more consistent. Once Telibong 2 phase two is fully completed, the water supply should be sufficient for users in Kota Kinabalu, Putatan and Penampang,' he said. Shahelmey said the technical issues in Kasigui are mainly related to distribution programming, which is currently being resolved and expected to be completed soon. Once the Telibong 2 interconnection pipeline is completed, water will be directed to Inanam and northern parts of Kota Kinabalu, such as Sepanggar. Water previously supplied from Moyog and Kasigui to those areas will instead be redirected to Kota Kinabalu and Putatan, ensuring adequate supply across the region. He also noted that the Water Department has water tankers on standby to supply affected areas in the event of pressure drops. Shahelmey made these remarks after presenting contributions to top STPM 2024 students in the Putatan parliamentary constituency at the Pan Borneo Hotel in Putatan today. He also presented I-Boards to six secondary schools: SMK Putatan, SMK Tansau, SMK Petagas, SMK Stella Maris, SM La Salle and SMK Pulau Gaya.
Daily Express
17-07-2025
- Climate
- Daily Express
Water Department monitors Sandakan, Penampang amid supply woes
Published on: Thursday, July 17, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jul 17, 2025 By: Sidney Skinner Text Size: A Department technician checks on the pressure of the supply reaching the DMZ meter in this part of Sandakan. The Water Department is keeping tabs on a Sandakan neighbourhood and a Penampang village to mitigate the problems caused by the low pressure of the incoming supply in these areas. A Taman Melrose homeowner and Kg Novunsu resident contacted Hotline separately about the difficulties they faced in receiving tap water since the first week of July. Advertisement The former bemoaned the intermittent supply which he had been receiving, saying that water either trickled into his premises or vanished altogether for days on end. The Penampang consumer, on the other hand, couldn't understand why the Department refused to have its tanker deliver water to his village, after he and his neighbours lost their supply for close to a week. Their grievances were forwarded to the agency. A Department spokesman said an inspection was made of Taman Melrose shortly after it was being contacted by the media. 'Our personnel discovered a leaking water main buried beneath a pavement at Block B of the Bandar Melrose commercial centre,' he said. He said repairs on the 150milimetre the Mid-Steel-Cement-Lined (MSCL) pipe were carried out on the spot. 'Our technicians later checked on the pressure of the water reaching the meters of random homes, which, at the time, was found to be normal.' A similar pressure check was made of the DMZ meter for this part of Sandakan, according to him. In the context of water management, we have a meter installed within a District Metered Zone (DMZ),' he explained. 'These zones are created to help us monitor and manage water distribution, specifically by isolating sections of the network to pinpoint leaks 'The DMZ meter measures the flow of water into the zone, showing the relevant data which allows our technicians to identify potential leaks.' On top of the irregularities involving potential leaks, the spokesman said a recent drop in the output from the Bukit Garam Water Treatment Plant week also took a toll on the water situation in the housing area. He said production fell for a few hours earlier this week due to the low levels of the river water channelled to the Plant. 'This was triggered by the dry weather in this part of the State. We also had to reckon with seawater finding its way into the intake point for the facility and elevating the salinity of the raw water.' Under normal circumstances, between 57 and 60 million litres of treated water were produced daily at the Plant, according to the spokesman. The Department issued a notice on Monday at 8am, which was circulated over social media, to alert consumers in parts of Sandakan and the Kinabatangan area to prepare for potential disruptions which might arise because of the emergency shutdown. Besides Taman Melrose, the other residential properties at the former location, which were impacted by the reduction, included Taman Sentosa, Taman Chrysanthemum, Taman Tsung Ngen and Taman Mawan. Sandakan rural communities in Kg Segaliud, Kg Garinono, Kg Ulu Dusun, Kg Kitagas, Kg Lung Pagung, Kg Sg Kapor, Kg Sg Tiram, Kg Pyon, Kg Jawa 1, Kg Jawa 2, Kg Sin Kan Kee, Kg Rosalinda, Kg Desa Indah, Kg Sg Api, Kg Air, Kg Bokara and Kg Gelam also felt the pinch. 'Regular operations resumed at Bukit Garam a few hours after the notice was circulated to the public.' Nevertheless in light of what had been transpiring in Taman Melrose, he said the Department's technicians had been asked to make periodic checks on the supply to the neighbourhood. A separate team of the agency's personnel would be doing the same when it came to Kg Novunsu in Penampang, according to another spokesman. When asked the consumer's claim about the Department's refusal to deploy a tanker to the village, he declined to comment. He explained that the problems in this part of the district stemmed from the 'burgeoning demand' for tap water around the State Capital. 'Kota Kinabalu is water stressed,' he said. 'The output from our Moyog and Kasigui Treatment Plants can barely keep up with the needs of our growing consumer-base in Kota Kinabalu. 'Moyog produces about 185 million litres of water daily (MLD) while Kasigui produces 53 MLD. He said the Department's KK branch had entered into discussions with its State headquarters on how best to deal with this situation. 'Until we can find a breakthrough to this shortage, our staff will be keeping an eye on Kg Novunsu, from time to time, to ensure that the water woes do not get out of hand.' * 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
