PADAWAN: The Sarawak Government is seeking to take over 79 federal water supply projects worth RM3.47 billion to address long-standing delays and strengthen the state’s water supply network.
Utility and Telecommunication Minister, Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi, said the federal government had agreed in principle to hand over the projects, with the state now awaiting final details from the Ministry of Finance (MOF).
“Based on our track record, the Sarawak Government, through my ministry and its implementing agencies, has demonstrated the capability to deliver water supply projects using state funds.
“As such, we have proposed taking over the implementation of federal-funded water supply projects that have remained pending for a long time.
“At this stage, we are awaiting a final decision from the federal government. That is the current status, and we will follow up on the matter soon,” he told reporters during a working visit to the Puncak Borneo Acute System here today.
Julaihi said many of the delayed federal projects had become missing links in Sarawak’s water supply network, particularly in rural areas.
He said the projects were important as they complemented water supply infrastructure already implemented by the Sarawak Government.
“We do not want these missing links to become obstacles to delivering water supply to the people, especially those in rural areas,” he said.
Julaihi cited Puncak Borneo as an example, where a federal water supply project approved in 2016 had yet to be implemented.
He said the Sarawak Government subsequently decided to build the Acute System using state funds to address water supply issues in the area.
The system currently produces six million litres of treated water daily and can be upgraded to eight million litres or even 10 million litres per day if required.
Julaihi asserted that Sarawak was seeking full authority to implement the projects under its existing financial and procurement procedures should the takeover proceed.
“When the projects are handed over, we want the authority and mandate to implement them fully under Sarawak’s existing procedures so they can be delivered more efficiently. We do not want a situation where projects are transferred but continue to face the same delays,” he commented.
On the same note, Julaihi said Sarawak was currently implementing about 360 water supply projects funded by the state government, with an overall completion rate of approximately 93 per cent.
He added that the state government had allocated nearly RM7 billion for water supply upgrading works and the replacement of ageing pipelines throughout Sarawak.
“The important thing is to ensure that clean and reliable water supply reaches the people, regardless of whether the projects are funded by the state or eventually handed over by the federal government,” he concluded.
