(Facing camera, from right) Julaihi, Anyi, Chieng and Ting being briefed by a Sarawak Water representative.
SIBU (May 4): The booster station at Jalan Durin, under the Kanowit Phase 2 water supply project, is a part of Sarawak’s broader efforts towards strengthening rural water infrastructure through its long-term water master plan.
According to Minister of Utility and Telecommunications Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi, the station – located along the Kanowit Phase 2 alignment linking the Salim water treatment plant to Kanowit – has a design capacity of 1.5 million litres of treated water per day, and will be supplied by the upgraded Salim system upon completion.
“This booster station is part of Kanowit Phase 2, but since the pipeline passes through Sibu Jaya, we have also included a diversion to ensure that they wouldreceive proper water supply,” he told reporters during a site visit to the Durin booster station on Monday.
It is informed that the project involves the installation of a 55km pipeline of various sizes, meant to channel treated water to a distribution tank in Bukong Jagoi that has a capacity of 3.5 million litres per day.
“This initiative is part of a wider state-funded programme involving nearly RM7 billion in allocations for about 360 water-related projects across Sarawak, including treatment plants, pipeline replacement works and system upgrades.
“These include new water treatment plants, upgrading of existing facilities, pipe replacement works and non-revenue water programmes involving ageing pipes that are more than 40 years old,” said Julahi.
The minister added that overall implementation progress remained strong, with combined completed and ongoing projects now exceeding 93 per cent, while remaining works continued to advance steadily.
Julahi also called upon the elected representatives and all the parties involved in the working visit to ensure that accurate and up-to-date information on project progress would be properly communicated to their respective communities in order to avoid any misunderstanding on the ground.
Among those present were Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng, Ngemah assemblyman Anyi Jana, Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) Sarawak director Ahmad Salihin Che Said, the ministry’s permanent secretary Datu Jafri Lias, acting Sarawak Water chief executive officer Malseni Jamal, Sibu Resident Abang Mohamad Porkan Abang Budiman, Temenggong Stanley Geramong, Pemanca Paing Tawi, Councillor Kevin Lau, and political secretary to the Premier Joshua Ting.
