KUCHING: Kuching South City Council (MBKS) says it had already taken action to address water supply disruptions at Kenyalang Market and Hawker Centre before the issue drew public attention, rejecting claims that it had failed to respond to hawkers’ concerns.
Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng said the council had engaged Sarawak Water and formally requested urgent intervention as soon as the persistent low water pressure was reported.
“The welfare of our hawkers has always been our priority. Long before recent public statements were made, MBKS had already engaged Sarawak Water and formally requested urgent intervention to resolve the problem,” he said in a statement.
Wee said he wrote to the chairman of Sarawak Water on May 25 to highlight the low water pressure affecting Kenyalang Market and Bintawa Market, warning that it was disrupting food preparation, hygiene, daily operations and business continuity.
While awaiting permanent rectification works by the utility provider, MBKS installed water storage tanks at Kenyalang Market to ensure hawkers could continue operating.
“We believe problems are solved through action, cooperation and continuous engagement, not merely through public criticism,” he said.
Noting that the affected water pipeline is under Sarawak Water’s jurisdiction, Wee said MBKS would continue working closely with the utility provider until a permanent solution is in place.
He also urged the public to recognise the council’s efforts, saying MBKS had been working with hawkers and the relevant agencies from the outset rather than reacting after the issue surfaced publicly.
