SIBU: Raw water supply issues here need to be monitored closely by the relevant agency, said Sibu MP Oscar Ling.
He said that this is the first time he has heard of water disruption happening due to low water pressure caused by low tide.
“This is the first time we are seeing this happening. I think this also alarms us that something is happening to our Rajang River, particularly the environment. We really need to look seriously into the environment because normally we have no issue with the raw water supply,” he said.
He said this when met by reporters at a free health screening programme aimed to raise awareness on health, which was attended by approximately 70 participants at Surau Darul Saadah, Kampung Hilir, here today (June 22).
Meanwhile, regarding the Sibu Water Board (SWB), he said that the public cannot put full blame on the agency as its facilities have reached the maximum capacity.
“SWB urgently needs to upgrade its facilities in order to have enough water supply for the whole Sibu area. Fortunately, SWB recently received an allocation (from the state government) to upgrade the facility.
“At least now we can see the funds coming in, which will lead to upgrading work, and in a few years, we will see a solution to this. So, I hope the state government will continue to look into the matter,” he added.
On Friday, federal Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, who is also Dudong assemblyman slammed SWB for lacking long-term planning in dealing with frequent water supply disruptions here, which have affected the people’s livelihood.
Meanwhile, SWB in a statement on June 20, clarified that the disruption was due to low water pressure caused by low tide, affecting the pumping of raw water from the river at the Salim and Bukit Lima treatment plants.
