KUCHING: The Sarawak Government has allocated more than RM10 billion for water supply projects implemented throughout the State.

Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg, said RM6 billion has been specifically set aside by the State Government to construct water treatment plants.

He added that RM1.1 billion has been allocated for the replacement and upgrading of ageing water pipelines, while the water grid system involves a cost of RM2 billion, in addition to several other projects such as the Sarawak Alternative Water Supply (SAWAS) initiative for rural areas.

“If we look at the overall expenditure, it comes close to RM10 billion.

“Water treatment plants alone account for RM6 billion, while the replacement and upgrading of old pipelines throughout Sarawak require RM1.1 billion.

“Added to this is the RM2 billion water grid system and other related projects, which brings the total to nearly RM10 billion.

“All of this depends on our own funding—that’s why finding the money can be challenging, but so far everything is progressing smoothly,” he said at a press conference after the launch of Sarawak Water Sdn Bhd at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on Tuesday.

When asked about the completion timeline for the pipeline system, Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari said the Sarawak Government is targeting full completion by 2030, in line with other major infrastructure projects such as the Pan Borneo Highway and Coastal Road.

He also suggested that data from the pipeline system should be stored in the Sarawak Data Centre for future reference.

He explained that this would prevent problems faced in the past, when road construction projects often disrupted water supply due to the absence of accurate records of old pipeline locations.

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, Sarawak Minister of Utility and Telecommunication, Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi, 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