Unbearable smell from overflowing septic tanks at prison – rep

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Bosi (right) at the prison’s perimeter fence during the inspection.

KOTA KINABALU: Kapayan assemblyman Dr Edwin Bosi met residents who complained about foul odour believed to be coming from the Prisons Department compound at Kg Ganang, Kapayan.

Bosi said he had communicated with the Prisons Department and had also raised this matter in the media and at the Sabah Assembly.

“I was informed that the septic tanks were damaged and also unable to cope with the high number of prisoners.

“The overflow of effluent from the septic tanks to the perimeter drain has caused the areas to be enveloped with bad odour.

“I was informed that the department would be applying for additional allocation to repair the damaged septic tanks,” Bosi said.

He said repairing the septic tanks would not be enough as the capacity of the tanks was overwhelmed by the high number of prisoners.

“There is therefore a need to construct larger septic tanks or to reduce the number of prisoners in this particular prison,” he said.

Bosi said that for a while he did not receive any complaints from the folk at Kg Ganang.

“I thought the smelly problem has been resolved until I was called by one of the residents few days ago.”

Bosi said he had no idea what was the problem inside the prison compound now.

“I can confirm here that the foul smell is still in the air during my inspection.”

Bosi said this was a serious health hazard.

“The government must fix this problem as soon as possible.      “Having no funds is not an excuse, especially for the BN government. I am appealing to the health authority to inspect this problem and use its power to get the problem resolved.

“I am also appealing to the director of Prisons to do something to stop the smell if indeed it is from the prison.”

Bosi said he had visited the nearby school and he could not imagine how the students and teachers could cope with such bad smell.

“I am sure their study is affected by the bad smell,” he said.