KUCHING: Democratic Action Party (DAP) member Michael Kong has called on the Utility and Telecommunication Ministry (MUT) to shift their focus towards the pressing issue of water supply in Kuching.
Kong, who is also special assistant to DAP Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen, said since January this year, the residents of Lorong 2 Jalan Semaba have been grappling with frequent water shortages, primarily due to recurring water pipe bursts over the past two to three years.
To exacerbate matters, he added there were four incidents of water pipe burst incidents occurring since last Friday, leading to frequent water disruptions for the affected residents.
“Regrettably, as of today, this matter remains unresolved, forcing residents to rely on mobile water tankers.
“While the Sarawak government has understandably invested significant efforts into other utilities such as electricity and telecommunications, it is imperative that we do not neglect the critical role that water utility plays in the daily lives of the people,” he said in a statement posted on his Facebook, today (Oct 16).
Despite the installation of new pipes in Lorong 2 Jalan Semeba, he said the residents are still receiving water from the old pipes, with reasoning that their respective water metres have not been successfully migrated to the new pipe system.
Kong said he was assured by KWB in a meeting in July that the migration process would be completed by August but the issue persists, which shows a significant delay in the execution.
“I have discussed this with representatives from KWB to raise this issue and have urged them to take immediate action to address the concerns faced by the residents of Lorong 2 Jalan Semaba.
“Simultaneously, I call upon the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication to redirect their attention towards the water issues plaguing the people of Kuching.
“The well-being of the people and the uninterrupted provision of essential utilities, including water, should always be a priority.
“It is vital that MUT and KWB work on implementing measures to ensure that such disruptions and inconveniences are minimised,” he said.
