RM6.6 mln water aid reaches 1,498 drought-hit families across S’wak with half a mil bottles

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By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Sept 19: Nearly half a million bottles of drinking water have been sent to 1,498 drought-hit families across Sarawak, with RM6.636 million channelled by the State Government to keep affected communities supplied during the prolonged dry spell.

According to a report by the Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas), Minister for Women, Children and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said the aid involved 492,671 bottles of 1.5-litre drinking water distributed to 204,365 people between August and Sept 14, 2026.

She said the extensive distribution demonstrated the efforts required to ensure affected residents continued to have access to drinking water.

“It can be imagined how much manpower is needed to carry these boxes of drinking water. The Social Welfare Department would like to thank our strategic partners for helping to ensure that those in need of drinking water receive an adequate supply,” she said speaking at the Excellent Service Awards Ceremony of the Ministry of Women, Children and Community Wellbeing Development (KPWK) and its agencies for 2025 at a hotel last night (Sept 18).

Based on reports submitted to the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) as of 6pm on Sept 17, water deliveries were still ongoing at 68 locations across Sarawak.

Water deliveries were carried out for 1,494 families and 6,624 people across seven areas, including Samarahan, Sri Aman, Betong, Sibu, Kapit, Mukah and Bintulu, covering villages, longhouses and a clinic.

Fatimah said the relief operations were strengthened through cooperation with strategic partners, including Rumah Panjang Volunteers, the Civil Defence Force (APM), the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM).

Meanwhile, she said the empowerment of Sarawak women remained a key focus of the ministry, covering economic participation, safety, leadership and wellbeing.

Fatimah said Sarawak was targeting 60 per cent female participation in the workforce, alongside efforts to increase the number of registered women entrepreneurs and women’s participation in professional and technical sectors.

In terms of leadership, she said the target was to increase women’s participation as decision-makers to 30 per cent, particularly in sectors where female representation remained low.

The efforts also aimed to reduce the gender gap and strengthen the wellbeing of families and communities, she added.

Also present were Sarawak Social Welfare Department (JKMS) director Semawi Mohamad; Sarawak Women and Family Department (JWKS) director Sharifah Zakiah Tuanku Pauzi; JKMS federal deputy director Mohd Ali Taib; KPWK Social Development Council executive secretary Rizjandy Nawawi; and SeDidik Sdn Bhd general manager Ayub Dahari. — DayakDaily

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