SIBU: Water-related issues are still a big headache for residents in Sibu Jaya-Durin area, and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) Dudong branch chairman Datuk Teo Boon Siew has urged the relevant agencies to resolve the problem.
According to Teo, it involved about 10,000 residents, not only in the residential area of Sibu Jaya but also in longhouses located under the Dudong constituency.
Claiming that the water supply issue has been longstanding for about three to four years, he said: “The residents have filed several complaints to our service centre and even to the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture and Dudong assemblyman Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, during his visit to several longhouses in conjunction with the recent Gawai.
“The failure of the relevant agencies to resolve the issue has caused a backlash from the residents as well as the local representative. They thought that we did not do our job right,” he said when met by reporters after presenting UNIFOR cheques totalling RM1.5 million to two religious bodies at the PDP Dudong service centre here today.
He also hoped that the relevant agencies would come out with an explanation to the residents on the reason behind delays in the project implementation.
“The pipes have been laid on the roadside and water interruption notices have been issued several times (for the pipe installation), but until now it seems that the project has yet to be completed.
“So, we hope that the relevant agencies would come forward and give an explanation to the residents to calm them down and not put the full blame on the local representative,” he added.
The Phase 2 of the Kanowit Water Supply project, which commenced in 2022, was expected to be completed in the same year; however, it was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Based on a news report last year (2023), the project, costing about RM63.5 million, was expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2024.
The project was divided into three components involving the construction of the Durin booster station, a high-level water tank with a capacity of 3.5 MLD in Bukong Jagoi, and the installation of a 55km-long pipe from the Salim water plant in Sibu to Kanowit.
When completed, the project is expected to increase water pressure and reliability of water supply in the Durin, Kanowit, Nibong Tada, Machan, and Sibu Jaya areas.
