Sibu Water Board holds dialogue session at Rh Dawi in Pasai Siong

SIBU (July 8): Sibu Water Board (SWB) reached out to the residents of Rumah Dawi, Jalan Pasai Siong Teku here yesterday to disseminate information on the Sarawak government’s water supply initiative.

Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) councillor Kevin Lau, who graced the dialogue session, said such initiative by SWB was meant to inform and raise awareness, especially on the water supply issue faced by the community in Pasai Siong.

“Sibu’s water usage has reached the limit of supply from the current Salim and Bukit Lima treatment plants, and there have been efforts to request for funds from the federal government for the upgrading works,” he said.

“The state’s Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication is aware of such urgency, thus, has carried out a plan for the whole of Sarawak,” he said, citing the current upgrading of Salim Water Treatment Plant here that will increase its production capacity from 150 million litres per day (MLD) to 300 MLD upon its completion in 2026.

Adding on, he said minister Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi at the recent earth-breaking ceremony for Salim Water Treatment Plant had announced the scope of works taken to address the water supply issues in Sibu’s affected areas, namely the construction of Teku booster station, laying of new pipelines, and the elevated water tank in Rantau Panjang.

“I believe this will help the situation in Pasai and I hope to collaborate with the community leaders and longhouse chiefs to help relay this information to the local community,” said Lau.

Dawi, the longhouse chief, meanwhile, acknowledged the significance of such dialogues to the residents at Pasai Siong who were faced with constant water supply problems.

SWB senior manager (Customer Service & Distribution) Loh Wei Lun expressed his appreciation for the residents’ feedback and sought their assistance to contact the authority should there be any pipe leakage in their area.