KUCHING: Sarawak Water Sdn Bhd has been officially launched to consolidate the Kuching Water Board (KWB), Sibu Water Board (SWB) and LAKU Management Sdn Bhd (LAKU) under a single entity.
Sarawak Minister of Utility and Telecommunication, Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi, said the merger formally takes effect on 1 August, with Sarawak Water appointed as the new water supply company, while KWB and SWB will be dissolved.
“This proposal aims to strengthen water supply management in Sarawak with a more effective system, covering organisational structure, asset management, financial sustainability and customer satisfaction,” he said.
He was speaking at the launch of Sarawak Water Sdn Bhd at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on Tuesday, officiated by Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg.
Dato Sri Julaihi added that one of the water agencies, the Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB), will continue to operate as a Sarawak Government agency responsible for developing clean water supply infrastructure, particularly in rural areas.
He also assured that operations in areas previously managed by KWB and SWB will continue as usual, despite the dissolution of both entities.
At the same time, he revealed that Sarawak requires RM21 billion to achieve full water supply coverage across the State through the implementation of several major projects.
Among them are the Landeh Water Treatment Plant project, the Nyabau Water Supply project, the Beluru Water Supply project, the Samalaju Water Supply project, the Trusan Water Supply project, and the Lawas Water Supply project, among others.
“To date, water coverage in urban areas has exceeded 99 per cent, while rural areas have only reached 71 per cent. Currently, the overall water supply coverage in Sarawak stands at about 85.6 per cent,” he said.
He further explained that since 2018, the Sarawak Government has approved nearly RM6 billion to implement water supply projects across the State.
This allocation is further supplemented with RM1.1 billion to upgrade and replace 2,740 kilometres of ageing pipelines throughout Sarawak, a phased programme which began late last year and will continue over the next five years.
Also present were Sarawak Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and Datuk Amar Prof. Dr. Sim Kui Hian, Speaker of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar, Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, Sarawak Secretary and Chairman of Sarawak Water Sdn Bhd, Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Deputy Ministers, department heads and other distinguished guests. -UKASnews
