Kampung Segaliud residents in Sandakan who depend on the Segaliud river for their daily needs are now forced to buy clean water after the river in the area became polluted.

azlan As they do not have piped water supply, they have to spend RM12 each day to buy 20 litres of water from others with the supply.

The water from Sungai Segaliud can no longer be used as it is claimed to be polluted by toxic effluent from the palm oil mills nearby.

Kampung Segaliud development and security committee chairman Jusliyan Tukong said residents who could not afford to install piped water supply had been depending on water from the river for their daily needs.

"This is a burden for the poor residents who are mostly fishermen as they also depend on the river for their livelihood," he said.

According to him, the four affected villages were Segaliud Seberang, Segaliud Bersatu, Segaliud Lungtueh and Segaliud Jambatan.

Jusliyan urged the relevant authorities to immediately look into the affected villagers' request for a water tank be made available to lessen their burden

- Bernama.