KOTA SAMARAHAN: Eight water tankers have been mobilised to provide water supply to households facing water woes following a major pipeline leak along the Kuching-Samarahan Expressway.
Utility and Telecommunication Minister Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi said deploying these tankers owned by the Kuching Water Board (KWB) and the Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) is part of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for such incidents.
“If the current number is insufficient to cover the larger residential areas, I urge KWB to collaborate with JBALB or related agencies to increase the number of mobile tankers.
“It’s crucial that residents in the affected areas, particularly within the Stakan constituency, receive water supply promptly without waiting for the repairs to be completed,” he said.
Julaihi said this during a press conference after attending a briefing on projects under Kuching Water Board (KWB), Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB), Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA), and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) at the Institute for Rural Advancement (INFRA) Samarahan Branch today (Oct 26).
These tankers will operate round the clock until normal water supply is restored.
As such, Julaihi called on residents in the affected neighbourhoods to cooperate, ensuring the smooth and orderly distribution of water through these tankers.
The pipeline leak, affecting the main 600 millimetre diameter ductile iron pipe, was reportedly caused by accidental damage from a contractor under Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd, responsible for Kuching Urban Transport System (KUTS) infrastructure.
“We urge the responsible parties to expedite repair works on-site as this pipeline is critical for water supply in Stakan,” he stressed.
“I also appeal to contractors involved in Automated Rail Transit (ART) developments to exercise caution when working along designated routes to prevent future damage, given the substantial impact.”
Sarawak Metro, in a statement assured that both the company and its contractors would collaborate closely with KWB to resolve the disruption.
“We appreciate Sarawak Metro’s commitment to addressing this issue in the near term,” said Julaihi.
Meanwhile, Stakan assemblyman Datuk Hamzah Brahim assured that his office would work closely with KWB and heed advice from the ministry and Julaihi to ensure optimal assistance for affected areas, particularly in managing mobile tankers at Taman Samarindah, Uni Garden, and Uni Vista.
