SIBU: A total of 2,132 households in the Rantau Panjang area here will enjoy a more stable water supply through the implementation of the acute system project which is currently underway here.
Minister for Utility and Telecommunication Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi said the project will not only benefit residents in the four-storey flats and housing in Rantau Panjang Jaya but will also involve seven longhouses and more than 17 shipping industries in the area.
“The project, worth nearly RM5 million, has now achieved 33 per cent progress since it was started on March 2, and is expected to be completed within eight months.
“The development of this project is progressing smoothly according to schedule but efforts to speed up construction are also being emphasised given the urgent need,” he said at a press conference after an official working visit to the Rantau Panjang Acute System’Water Supply Project here today.
With a production capacity of up to five million litres per day (5 MLD), Julaihi explained that this new system will strengthen the existing supply from the Salim Water Treatment Plant and Bukit Lima Water Treatment Plant, thus increasing the efficiency of water distribution to local residents.
He said that the project under the supervision of the Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) is a short-term solution by the Sarawak government while waiting for the implementation of large-scale projects through the Sarawak Water Supply Master Plan and the Sarawak Water Grid System to be fully completed.
Meanwhile, he also admitted that the main challenges of the water project in Sibu stem from the marshy soil conditions and the existence of old buried pipes, which make it difficult to upgrade the water supply works and replacement of pipes, besides affecting efforts to reduce non-revenue water (NRW) rates.
“The Sarawak government has allocated nearly RM7 billion for the development of the water supply sector throughout the state, including the Salim Water Treatment Plant upgrade project which is now 60 per cent completed, with capacity set to be increased from 150 MLD to 300 MLD.
“This effort is in line with the goal of the Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS 2030) to ensure that all Sarawakians have access to treated water supply by 2030,” added Julaihi, who is also the Sebuyau assemblyman.
Also present were Bawang Assan assemblyman Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh, Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng, Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication permanent secretary Datu Jafri Lias, Sarawak Water Sdn Bhd acting chief executive officer Malseni Jamal, Sibu Division Resident Abang Mohamad Porkan Abang Budiman, Sibu Rural District councillor Kevin Lau and other guests.
