BINTULU: The Sarawak Government remains committed to addressing clean water supply issues in rural and interior areas of the state, including through strategic collaborations with private entities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development, Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, said providing access to clean water remains a government priority, as it is a basic necessity still not fully enjoyed by some rural communities.
“Clean water supply remains a major challenge in Sarawak. During my tenure as the Minister of Utility, we identified that RM21 billion was needed to cover the entire state.
“However, only RM4.7 billion had been allocated at that time to address the most severely affected areas,” he said.
He said this during the handover and launching ceremony of the Clean Water Supply Project at Kampung Yoh, Labang, along the Bintulu-Miri Road today.
The project is a joint initiative between Malaysia LNG (MLNG), Yayasan Ikhlas and Yayasan PETRONAS, aimed at providing clean water access to villagers who have long depended on alternative sources such as rainwater harvesting and gravity-fed systems.
“I truly appreciate the initiative by MLNG, Yayasan Ikhlas and Yayasan PETRONAS.
“This is a model of collaboration that should be extended to more rural areas still lacking clean water facilities,” he said.
Dr Rundi, who is also the Kemena Assemblyman, said various approaches have been used to solve water supply issues, including rainwater harvesting systems, gravity pits and distribution systems managed by companies such as Sarawak Water Sdn Bhd (LAKU).
However, he said that these solutions face limitations, particularly during the dry season.
“At that time, we also initiated the construction of elevated water tanks from the Nyabau Water Treatment Plant as part of a long-term plan.
“However, due to logistical challenges and coordination between the federal and state governments, implementation took time,” he said.
He noted that Sarawak now has better financial capability, and the state government will continue to utilise its own funds to expedite clean water projects without over-reliance on federal funding.
“To date, clean water supply coverage in Sarawak stands at only 87 per cent, with the remainder still relying on alternative systems.
“We are working to improve this figure by allocating more funds specifically for interior areas,” he said.
He added that given Sarawak’s vast geographical size and the scattered nature of its villages, coupled with challenging logistics, the cost of infrastructure development is significantly higher compared to other states.
Therefore, he urged more parties to step forward and contribute to ensuring that every Sarawakian, regardless of location, has access to safe and reliable clean water.
Also present at the event were Yayasan PETRONAS Chief Executive Officer, Shariah Nelly Francis; Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Yayasan Ikhlas, Prof. Dr Zainur Rashid Zainuddin; Political Secretary to the Premier, Collin Patan; and Kampung Yoh community leader, Yoh Mejuai.
