Why is the Sabah government pushing for the Papar dam despite public outcry?

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Sabah Government’s Rationale for Proceeding with Papar Dam Amidst Opposition

The Sabah state government, under caretaker Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, is proceeding with the controversial Papar (also referred to as Kaiduan/Papar) dam project primarily to address the state's persistent water supply issues. Despite significant public outcry and opposition, particularly from indigenous communities and political parties like the Sabah Progressive Party, the government asserts the dam's necessity for increasing water availability and its capacity for hydroelectric power generation. The project, with an estimated cost of RM3 billion, is presented as a long-term solution to mitigate the state's water woes.
Addressing Water Scarcity

The government's primary justification for the Papar dam project is its intended role in resolving Sabah's chronic water supply shortages. Caretaker Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal stated that the project would ultimately be beneficial and is necessary to solve the state's water woes. The dam is designed not only to increase the volume of potable water but also to incorporate hydroelectric power generation capabilities, suggesting a dual-purpose approach to resource management.
Criticisms Regarding Project Execution and Alternatives

The Sabah Progressive Party has voiced strong criticism, questioning the decision-making process and the substantial cost increase from an initial RM2 billion to RM3 billion. Deputy party president Edward Dagul highlighted concerns about the alleged lack of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and the appointment of a Chinese contractor previously linked to the controversial Penang undersea tunnel project. Critics argue that the government's focus on a new dam overlooks more immediate and potentially cost-effective solutions.
The Issue of Non-Revenue Water (NRW)

A significant point of contention raised by critics is the high rate of Non-Revenue Water (NRW), which is estimated to be around 50 per cent. This implies that a substantial portion of treated water is lost through leakages in the existing delivery system, such as broken pipes and faulty pumps, before it reaches consumers. The Sabah Progressive Party suggests that a more prudent approach would involve significantly increasing the allocation for NRW reduction, proposing an annual investment of at least RM300 million to reach international standards of approximately 20 per cent, rather than investing billions in a new dam that could exacerbate existing distribution inefficiencies.
Longstanding Opposition and Political Ramifications

The Papar dam project has faced considerable resistance from indigenous communities for approximately a decade, dating back to its initial proposal by the Barisan Nasional state government. Political parties, including Warisan before their rise to power, had previously echoed these objections and promised to scrap the project. The current decision to proceed has been interpreted by the Sabah Progressive Party as a political misstep that could alienate voters in key constituencies, potentially impacting the ruling coalition's performance in the upcoming state election.

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Why is the Sabah government pushing for the Papar dam despite public outcry?

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