KUCHING: An allocation worth RM150 million has been approved by the State government to build a new water pipeline in Asajaya, Sadong Jaya, Sebuyau, Simunjan and Sebangan.
According to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Johari Tun Openg, the water pipeline system in Kota Samarahan area was too old and and there have been a lot of leakages and damages, which caused the shortage in water supply.
“We decided today that a new pipeline system with an estimated worth of RM150 million will be built to replace the existing one that is over 40 years old in the area as an immediate solution,” he said to the reporters after attending a briefing session by the Sarawak Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Pasentren Abdul Taib Mahmud in Asajaya here yesterday.
Johari also noted that the allocation which is borne by the State government will be approved immediately.
“JBALB has been given 18 months to complete the installation works of the new pipe system and the construction job will be divided into few packages so that it can be implemented immediately and the water pipe system must also follow the existing bridge and road,” he said.
Based on the briefing session, water shortages in the said areas were frequent, especially in Asajaya, Sadong Jaya, Simunjan, Sebuyau and also Sebangan.
JBALB clarified that the water shortages in those areas were due to leakages, and identifying the leakage was not an easy task as the existing water pipeline was laid through the jungle and riverside areas in Kota Samarahan.
Also present were Minister for Utilities Datuk Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Assistant Minister for E-Commerce Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais, Assistant Minister for Coastal Road Datuk Julaihi Narawi, Batang Sadong Member of Parliament Dato’ Sri Nancy Shukri, Kota Samarahan Member of Parliament Rubiah Wang, Sadong Jaya State Assemblyman Aidel Lariwoo and Simunjan State Assemblyman Awla Dris.
