‘Water cannot jump’: Premier cites Kemena pipe issue in push for Sarawak to take over projects

Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg greets members of the public upon his arrival for the opening ceremony of Batang Lupar Bridge 1 in Sebuyau on July 9, 2026. Photo credit: UKAS

By Shikin Louis

KUCHING, July 9: Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has cited a water supply project issue in Kemena as an example of why Sarawak should be entrusted with implementing more infrastructure projects.

He said Sarawak had completed its part of the water supply infrastructure, but delays in the federal component affected the overall connectivity of the system.

“We built the pipes in Kemena. Sarawak built the left and right sides, but in the middle there was no pipe. How can the water jump?” he said when speaking at the opening ceremony of Batang Lupar Bridge 1, broadcast live by Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS) today.

He said the situation occurred because the project involved both State and federal responsibilities, with Sarawak completing its portion while the federal side had yet to do so.

Abang Johari said the matter was eventually resolved after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim agreed for Sarawak to take over the implementation of water supply projects.

“Finally, the Prime Minister said, hand it over to Sarawak because Sarawak has engineers who are capable of implementing infrastructure projects,” he said.

He said the move reflected confidence in Sarawak’s own technical capabilities and engineering expertise in delivering major infrastructure projects.

Abang Johari pointed to the completion of Batang Lupar Bridge 1 as proof that Sarawak engineers were capable of handling complex developments when given the responsibility.

“This bridge reflects that our engineers can withstand all challenges. Give them the work, they can do it.

“That is the standard of our engineers and that is the reflection of the quality of our engineers,” he said.

He said the opening of Batang Lupar Bridge 1 was not merely about completing a bridge, but also about demonstrating Sarawak’s ability to undertake and deliver major projects.

“Today, we are not only officiating a bridge. We want to tell the world that Sarawak can do it if given the task,” he said.

Also present were Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian; Sarawak Legislative Assembly Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar; Minister of Utility and Telecommunication as well as Sebuyau assemblyman Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi; Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development as well as Dalat assemblywoman Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah; Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts as well as Asajaya assemblyman Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah; Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development as well as Kemena assemblyman Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom; Minister of Transport Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin; Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki; Deputy Minister for Infrastructure and Port Development (Infrastructure Development) as well as Sadong Jaya assemblyman Datuk Aidel Lariwoo; and Sarawak Public Works Department (JKR) director Datu Cassidy Morris. — DayakDaily