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Sarawak's water catchment levels stable despite dry weather, says Deputy Premier
Sarawak's water catchment levels stable despite dry weather, says Deputy Premier

Borneo Post

time31-07-2025

  • Climate
  • Borneo Post

Sarawak's water catchment levels stable despite dry weather, says Deputy Premier

Uggah speaks at the press conference after chairing the SDMC meeting today. – Photo by Chimon Upon KUCHING (July 31): Water catchment levels across Sarawak remain stable for now despite the hot and dry weather conditions affecting the state, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas. The State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman said the Sarawak government had received weather and fire risk briefings from various agencies, including the Malaysian Meteorological Department, Department of Irrigation and Drainage Sarawak, Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB), Fire and Rescue Department, Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB), and Welfare Department. 'At the moment, the water catchment levels are still okay. JBALB informed us that the situation is currently stable, but we have instructed them to closely monitor and report any developments to the government. 'They have set up a dedicated committee to oversee all water sources. One area of concern is the Gelugus Water Treatment Plant in Lawas, Limbang Division, which is currently recording very low levels,' Uggah told a press conference after chairing the SDMC meeting here today. He revealed there have been 675 requests for drinking water supply across Sarawak involving 15,000 families, with the highest number in Miri. 'In the past, the state government had supplied 12 tankers to address such needs. Those tankers are now distributed across all divisions and are on standby,' he said. As of this noon today, 220 hotspots have been detected throughout Sarawak. However, Uggah said the situation remains under control, with only Mukah recording an unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) level of 160. He said all Divisional Disaster Management Committees have been instructed to convene meetings and prepare response teams. 'We have directed all Resident's offices to be ready and to establish standby teams to deal with any emergencies,' he said. Uggah pointed out NREB revoked all open burning permits for plantations two weeks ago and has since prohibited all forms of open burning. Related story: Uggah: 220 hotspots detected across Sarawak, fire mitigation and water supply efforts mobilised Douglas Uggah Embas lead water catchment

Sarawak water agencies on high alert amid prolonged hot weather
Sarawak water agencies on high alert amid prolonged hot weather

Malay Mail

time26-07-2025

  • Climate
  • Malay Mail

Sarawak water agencies on high alert amid prolonged hot weather

SEBUYAU, July 26 — Sarawak's water supply agencies are on high alert as the state braces for prolonged hot and dry weather, said State Utility and Telecommunication Minister, Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi. He said all agencies under his ministry including the Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB), Kuching Water Board, Sibu Water Board, and Laku Management Sdn Bhd have been instructed to continuously monitor water sources as part of standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure stable and reliable supply for consumers. 'This is part of our ministry's standard operating procedure (SOP) to ensure water supply sources are regularly monitored to maintain service stability and reliability for consumers,' he told a press conference after officiating the Petronas Powering Knowledge: MLNG Bestari Outreach Programme at SMK Sebuyau today. Julaihi said his ministry is also working closely with the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) and stands ready to provide water supply assistance if necessary, although the situation remains under control for now. 'All water treatment plants across Sarawak are operating well and capable of meeting demand,' he said, while noting that disruptions may only occur in cases such as pipeline leaks, either due to aging infrastructure or third-party damage. 'Nevertheless, our agencies are always prepared to respond swiftly to any impact from the hot spell,' he said. Julaihi also urged the public to conserve water and follow any water-saving directives issued by the authorities. Meanwhile, the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a heatwave alert for four areas in Sarawak — Sibu, Marudi, Telang Usan, and Limbang — following persistently high temperatures. The alert is triggered when daily maximum temperatures reach between 35°C and 37°C for at least three consecutive days. For updates on the current heatwave status, the public can visit MetMalaysia's official website at — The Borneo Post

Nibong-Tada water woes: Two high-impact projects set to meet increasing demands, says JBALB
Nibong-Tada water woes: Two high-impact projects set to meet increasing demands, says JBALB

Borneo Post

time12-06-2025

  • 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

Frustration mounts in Lawas over unresolved water woes
Frustration mounts in Lawas over unresolved water woes

Borneo Post

time11-06-2025

  • 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

Julaihi: Sg Sadit acute water system addresses area's supply issue, reduces dependency on treatment plants
Julaihi: Sg Sadit acute water system addresses area's supply issue, reduces dependency on treatment plants

Borneo Post

time14-05-2025

  • 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.

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