Rural water supply coverage in Sarawak at 71 pct, JBALB targets gradual increase

KUCHING (March 10): Rural water supply coverage in Sarawak currently stands at 71 per cent, with the Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) targeting a two to six per cent annual increase to gradually expand access for communities in rural areas.

JBALB director Ahmad Selihin Che Said said the target, however, is not fixed as the rate of increase depends on population growth and the development of rural communities.

“If the population were static, it would be easier to achieve the target.

“However, because the population is dynamic, the increase may range between two to six per cent, depending on population growth and community expansion,” he said during a press conference after the Sarawak JBALB World Water Day Celebration 2026 on Monday.

He explained that the department calculates coverage based on households, making it challenging to reflect population changes accurately.

“For example, one house may initially have four occupants. Over time, the number may increase when family members get married but continue living in the same house.

“Although the number of residents grows, it is still counted as one household, even though the population in that household has increased,” he added.

Overall, Ahmad Selihin revealed that Sarawak’s total water supply coverage currently stands at 85.4 per cent, including both urban and rural areas.

In an effort to improve water accessibility across the state, JBALB continues to implement various water supply projects under the 11th Malaysia Plan (RMK11).

As of February 2026, 89 projects are under construction, while 351 projects are at various stages of planning.

In addition, 769 water supply projects have been fully completed across Sarawak.

Apart from new developments, JBALB is also carrying out a pipe replacement initiative to enhance the reliability of water supply systems, involving a RM558 million allocation for 216 projects from 2024 to 2027.