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Borneo Post
12-06-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Nibong-Tada water woes: Two high-impact projects set to meet increasing demands, says JBALB
Awang Mohammad says the two projects are long-term solutions to address water the current supply disruptions in the area. – Stock photo KUCHING (June 12): Two high-impact projects are currently being implemented to accommodate increasing water supply demands in Nibong-Tada, Kanowit. Sarawak Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) director Awang Mohammad Fadillah Awang Redzuan said the two projects are long-term solutions to address water the current supply disruptions in the area. 'The first is the Kanowit Phase 2 project which is expected to be completed in the third quarter of this year. The other is the Salim Water Treatment Plant Phase III upgrade project under the Sibu Water Authority,' he said when contacted by The Borneo Post. Awang Mohammad Fadillah was asked to comment on water supply disruptions marring the Gawai Dayak celebrations at several longhouses in Nibong-Tada, highlighted by former Kanowit MP Tan Sri Leo Moggie Irok. Moggie told The Borneo Post on Wednesday that the issue of unsatisfactory water supply along the Nibong-Tada road was thought to have been resolved following his personal exchanges of correspondence with the federal Rural and Regional Development Ministry and Sarawak JBALB in 2017 and 2018, adding that upgrading works were supposed to have been carried out then. Meanwhile, Awang Mohammad Fadillah said a short-term solution to the problem includes the supply of water by JBALB to the Nibong-Tada area through the Nibong-Tada booster pump station, supplying approximately 1.8 to two million litres per day. 'The water supply is from the Sibu Water Authority through the Salim Water Treatment Plant. However, the water supply distribution capacity is currently insufficient, especially during the festive season. 'To overcome this problem, the short-term solution is to implement the Acute System Project with a capacity of four million litres per day, which is expected to begin construction in the fourth quarter of this year,' he said. He also informed that the delivery of water via water tankers is being carried out every day by JBALB to the affected longhouses in the area. jbalb Kanowit Nibong/Tada water supply
Borneo Post
11-06-2025
- Climate
- Borneo Post
Frustration mounts in Lawas over unresolved water woes
Photo shows the low water-level at the Gelugus Water Treatment Plant's intake point, caused by hot weather and a breached retaining wall. – Photo by JBALB Sarawak MIRI (June 11): Thousands of Lawas residents have expressed mounting frustration over an unresolved water supply disruption that has persisted since June 6, with many pointing out that such problems have plagued the district for years. Social media has seen an outpouring of complaints from affected residents, who say they are fed up with the lack of consistent access to clean water. Many described the crisis as not merely an inconvenience, but a daily hardship that disrupts basic routines like cooking, bathing and washing. 'The water supply problem in Lawas is nothing new. It has been going on for far too long,' one resident wrote in response to a post on Facebook page Lawaskini. 'As citizens, we are forced to come up with our own solutions. Hoping for government help feels like wishing for the moon — full of hope but no results.' Another resident said that he although he rarely returns to Lawas, every time he sees this issue resurface online, it saddens him. 'It's hard to imagine life without sufficient water — even simple things like bathing, cooking, and washing become burdensome. Water is a basic necessity, not a luxury,' he said. Another netizen echoed the sentiment saying that Lawas folks have been putting up with an unreliable water supply for years. He claimed that every single month, without fail, there are water disruptions. 'Whether it's burst pipes, faulty machines, murky water, low river levels or floods — the list goes on. This isn't an occasional problem. It's a monthly occurrence. Pipes are bursting in Merapok, Punang, Trusan, and even Lawas itself,' he said. The Facebook post has drawn 118 comments, 111 shares, and 451 reactions as of the time of writing. In March this year, similar issue occurred where several areas — including Kampung Lintang, SK Lintang, Gelapas, Kampung Seberang Pekan Trusan, Long Suang, and settlements along the road to Ulu Sungai Trusan — were left without water for over a week. Meanwhile, Ba Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian, in a statement, pointed out that the primary cause of this disruption is the failure of three out of four pumps at the Trusan Water Treatment Plant, with the remaining pump operating at only 30 per cent of its usual capacity. 'These pumps are currently undergoing repairs in Miri. Compounding the issue, the water level at Trusan River, the source for the reservoir, is critically low,' he added. To mitigate the issue, Baru called the JBALB to coordinate with other government agencies, such as the Fire and Rescue department (Bomba) and Sarawak Water Board Sdn Bhd to borrow additional water trucks to ensure adequate water distribution. Additionally, he also called on the authorities to supply mineral water to the affected households to meet urgent needs for drinking and cooking. Baru Bian Lawas lead water disruption
Borneo Post
14-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Julaihi: Sg Sadit acute water system addresses area's supply issue, reduces dependency on treatment plants
Julaihi (front centre), flanked by Wong and Chieng, shows his approval for the Sungai Sadit acute water system project. — Photo from Facebook/ JBALB Sarawak SIBU (May 14): The new Sungai Sadit acute water system is providing a solution to the water supply issue in the area, said Utility and Telecommunication Minister Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi. He said the fully operational project benefits not only Sungai Sadit residents, but also those in the Bawang Assan constituency and Sibu town. 'The implementation of Sungai Sadit acute system reduces dependency on Bukit Lima Water Treatment Plant and Salim Water Treatment Plant. 'We are taking the pressure away from Bukit Lima and Salim plants by putting up an acute system at Sungai Sadit with four million litres per day (MLD) production capacity. 'With the Sungai Sadit acute system, the plants at Bukit Lima and Salim can focus on servicing the town area,' he said when launching the system yesterday. Julaihi said the RM5 million Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) project commenced in September last year and was completed within six months. Fully funded by the state government, the project involved the construction of a new water treatment plant and installation of new pipelines to existing distribution pipes. 'The implementation of the project is a part of the Sarawak Water Supply Master Plan and Water Supply Grid System. It is our long-term initiative to resolve and address water supply issues effectively and comprehensively,' he said. Meanwhile, Julaihi said the ongoing upgrading of the Salim Water Treatment Plant to double its production capacity from 150MLD to 300MLD would ensure Sibu has water reserves. 'Together with Bukit Lima Water Treatment Plant, which produces 45MLD per day, we have a total of 195MLD per day at the moment but this is only enough for the use of Sibu residents and there is no reserve margin. 'That is why we need to upgrade Salim Water Treatment Plant and the Sarawak government has approved RM300 million for this purpose. 'I am confident that when we have 300MLD daily plus 45MLD from Bukit Lima plant, we will have sufficient water supply not just for Sibu but also for the outskirts and surrounding areas,' he added. Among those present were JBALB director Awang Mohammad Fadillah Awang Redzuan, Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication permanent secretary Datu Jafri Lias, Sibu Water Board general manager Abdul Malik Abdullah, Sibu Resident Abang Mohamad Porkan Abang Budiman, Bawang Assan assemblyman Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, and Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng.
Borneo Post
08-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Lichok water treatment plant construction ahead of schedule, expects completion this Oct
Julaihi (left) with others at the new Lichok Water Treatment Plant site on Wednesday. – Photo via Facebook/Julaihi Narawi KUCHING (May 8): Residents in Kabong can look forward to a major boost in treated water supply when the new Lichok Water Treatment Plant is completed this October. Sarawak Minister of Utility and Telecommunications, Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi, in a Facebook post, said the RM29 million plant which began construction last February will have a treatment capacity of 10 million litres per day (MLD). 'Currently, the existing Lichok plant produces 15 MLD of treated water, with the ability to increase up to 19 MLD during peak demand. 'Once the new plant is operational, the combined output will rise to 25 MLD, or up to 29 MLD if needed, ensuring a more stable and sufficient water supply for Kabong District,' he said following a site visit to the construction site with a team from the Sarawak Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) yesterday (May 7). Accompanying him were Kabong assemblyman Dato Mohd Chee Kadir, Kalaka assemblyman Mohamad Duri, Krian assemblyman Friday Belik, State Ministry of Utility and Telecommunications Secretary Datu Jafri Lias, and JBALB Director Awg Fadilla Awg Raduan among others. He noted that the project is progressing well, with construction reaching 42 per cent completion currently, exceeding the projected schedule of 32 per cent. 'The Acute Water Supply System allows the project to be completed in less than a year. The entire initiative is fully funded by the Sarawak government,' he added. Julaihi explained that treated water from the Lichok plant is channelled to two main elevated storage tanks – one at Bukit Lebur with a capacity of 4.5 million litres and another in Kabong town with 3 million litres – before being distributed to homes and businesses. 'This development follows the near-completion of Package 1 of the Kabong District Water Supply Project, which includes 12 key components such as the construction of elevated water tanks and distribution pipelines. 'The package, with a budget of RM107.5 million, is also state-funded,' said Julaihi. jbalb julaihi narawi Lichok Water Treatment Plant
Borneo Post
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Upgraded Bayong plant in Sarikei boasts 100 MLD capacity, new intake point and pipelines
Julaihi (front fourth right) is briefed about the Bayong Water Treatment Plant. SARIKEI (May 8): The upgraded Bayong Water Treatment Plant here has a new intake point along the Gerugu River, said Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi. The Minister of Utility and Telecommunication said the plant sources its raw water from the Gerugu Dam, which has a yield of approximately 140 million litres. 'The Bayong plant has now been fully upgraded and boasts a capacity of 100 MLD (million litres per day), up from its previous 70 MLD, with an additional 30 MLD added through recent works. 'The upgrade, which included the construction of a new intake point and installation of new pipelines, cost RM68.4 million, fully funded by the Sarawak government,' he said during a visit yesterday. Separately, he said work to upgrade the Julau Water Treatment Plant is progressing steadily and expected to increase the facility's water production capacity to 4.7 MLD once completed by the end of this year. He said the new water treatment plant, currently under construction, will have a capacity of 3.4 MLD. 'Located adjacent to the existing plant which currently produces 1.3 MLD, the addition will significantly enhance water supply,' he said. He added the project, fully funded by the Sarawak government, comes at a cost of nearly RM26 million. Meanwhile, Meluan assemblyman Rolland Duat Jubin voiced deep concern over the ongoing water supply crisis in Julau, describing the situation as critical and having dragged on for far too long. He called on the Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) to be more efficient and proactive in resolving the long-standing water issues affecting the Meluan constituency. 'The residents have been patient but are in urgent need of a sustainable solution,' said Rolland. Julaihi instructed JBALB to give the utmost commitment in addressing the matter and stressed that the department must remain responsive to public complaints and act swiftly to implement necessary measures. Among those present were Meradong assemblyman Datuk Ding Kuong Hiing, Wong Zee Yeng – who represented Sarikei MP Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii, JBALB state director Awang Mohammad Fadillah Awang Redzuan, and Sarikei Deputy Resident Badjuri Bidin.
