Latest news with #JBALBSarawak
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.
