KUCHING: The Sarawak Water Sdn Bhd, a merger of three water management boards, will continue to safeguard the welfare of all staff.
Utility and Telecommunication Minister Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi said that 97.12 per cent, or 1,214 employees across all categories and grades, have officially joined Sarawak Water Sdn Bhd.
Meanwhile, the remaining 2.88 per cent, equivalent to 34 employees, opted to remain in the Sarawak Civil Service.
“To ensure a smooth merger of the three agencies, the Sarawak government appointed an Integration Management Office (IMO) to manage and coordinate the integration process of the Kuching Water Board (KWB), Sibu Water Board (SWB), and LAKU Management Sdn Bhd (LAKU) into the single water supply entity.
“The merger officially took effect on August 1, 2025, with Sarawak Water appointed as the new water supply company and the dissolution of KWB and SWB.
“All staff from the three original entities will continue to be protected under the principles of ‘Everyone will not be worse off economically’ and ‘Everyone will have a place in the new organisation,’” he said.
He said this during the launching ceremony of Sarawak Water Sdn Bhd at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on Tuesday.
Julaihi said that Sarawak Water may require its own headquarters in the future to operate more efficiently.
“Not now, but maybe in the future. We can explore. We are just throwing out the idea,” he added.
Julaihi explained that the establishment of Sarawak Water as a single entity aimed to strengthen water supply management in the state.
He said this management system covers organisational structure, asset management, financial sustainability and customer satisfaction.
“The journey towards the establishment of Sarawak Water began in 2020, when a detailed study was carried out to assess the feasibility of merging all existing water supply entities into one.
“Sarawak Water was officially registered under the Companies Act on December 26, 2024, through the renaming of LAKU to Sarawak Water Sdn Bhd, which served as the platform to consolidate the three entities,” he added.
