KOTA KINABALU, Aug. 16 -- Residents of Kingfisher Putatan Condominium (KFP) are refusing to pay the more than RM120,000 bill for water delivered by privately-operated tankers when they endured 55 days without supply between April and May.

Some said they had no choice but to purchase bottled water for drinking, washing, cooking, cleaning and other daily needs. They said the extra expenses should not have been necessary if the State Water Department (JANS) had fulfilled its responsibility.

Despite being located just south of Kota Kinabalu, Putatan has faced repeated water shortages since 2018. During the disruption, the condominium's developer and management, Hap Seng Land Development and JCA Sdn Bhd, were compelled to procure water from ...