KOTA KINABALU: Despite being just a stone's throw from the Sabah Legislative Assembly building, residents of Kampung Kibagu here still rely on well water.
This was revealed by PAS-nominated assemblyman Datuk Dr Aliakbar Gulasan during a state assembly sitting.
While acknowledging the government's plans and initiatives, he highlighted that basic infrastructure issues persist.
He added that Kampung Karambunai and Kampung Salimbangun, also under the jurisdiction of the Kota Kinabalu City Hall, lack proper water supply.
Aliakbar also raised concerns over long waiting hours at government hospitals and clinics.
"We can see people not only waiting for hours, but also staying overnight at these facilities as if they are homeless.
"They wait from night till morning, with no transit homes or proper places to rest," he said, adding that waiting times at hospital emergency departments typically range from three to five hours, while at mother-and-child clinics, the waiting period is between four and six hours.
Meanwhile, during the same session, Nabawan assemblyman Datuk Abdul Ghani Mohamed Yassin congratulated Zamarul AI Adam Pulutan Abdullah, a bodybuilding athlete from Nabawan, for winning the World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship (WBPF) 2024 in the 85-kilogramme category in the Maldives last week.
"This is a shining example of a talent from a rural area excelling on the world stage, which should inspire us to nurture and develop the potential of youths in Sabah's rural areas," he said.
Another nominated assemblyman, Datuk Amisah Yassin, proposed the establishment of a dedicated body to manage and support the creative industry's development.
"The people of Sabah, particularly the youth talented in performing arts, creative media and cultural heritage, need a better platform to showcase their talent.
"The lack of opportunities has resulted in a brain drain to Peninsular Malaysia and other countries," she said.