‘Don’t blame MBKS, go to right authority,’ says mayor over KUTS-linked water disruptions

Wee speaking to the media at the press conference of Kuching South Child Council (KSCC) 2026–2028 term application at MBKS headquarters on May 8, 2026.

By Dayangku Hidayatul

KUCHING, May 8: The public should not place the blame on Kuching South City Council (MBKS) over recurring water disruptions caused by construction works, says Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng.

He stressed that incidents involving damaged water pipes in Tabuan Jaya and nearby areas fall under the responsibility of the relevant authorities and contractors handling the projects.

“When these incidents happen, what matters most is addressing the real cause. The public should direct concerns to the proper authority responsible. Pointing fingers at one another may be convenient for some, sometimes even for political attacks, but it does not solve the problem.

“When a pipe bursts, people only expect one thing and that is for those responsible to act quickly and fix it, not shift the blame,” he told reporters during a press conference on the Kuching South Child Council (KSCC) 2026–2028 term applications at the MBKS headquarters today.

He was referring to the recent water supply disruption caused by a pipe burst linked to third-party works under the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) project along Jalan Wan Alwi.

Wee noted that similar disruptions had occurred repeatedly and that inspections had already been conducted at the affected sites.

He said while occasional mistakes during construction might be understandable, repeated incidents should not be taken lightly.

“If it happens once, people may understand. Perhaps even twice. But if it continues to happen, then the authorities must investigate thoroughly and ensure firm action is taken against the contractor involved,” he added.

He stressed that blame games and political accusations would do little to resolve the actual issue on the ground.

“Posting on social media or making accusations in newspapers will not restore the water supply. It will not repair the damaged pipes,” he said.

Wee added that the responsibility lies with the project authority and contractor to respond swiftly and manage the situation effectively whenever such incidents occur.

He explained that MBKS only becomes involved because the affected locations fall within its jurisdiction, but the council should not be made the primary party responsible.
“When something happens, the first response must come from the authority in charge. They need to coordinate immediately with the water operator and contractor,” he said.

He also called for better planning and stricter monitoring of major infrastructure projects to prevent recurring disruptions in the future.

Yesterday (May 7), Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd said it immediately worked closely with the Blue Line Package 2 contractor — a joint venture between Perbena Emas Sdn Bhd and CRBC (M) Holdings Sdn Bhd — as well as Sarawak Water Sdn Bhd to facilitate repair works and restore water supply to the affected area as quickly as possible. — DayakDaily