KUCHING: The Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) has allocated RM5.995 billion to implement 44 development projects in Sarawak under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP).

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof, said that of the total, 11 are new projects, while 33 are extensions of existing ones.

He explained that the projects focus on flood mitigation, coastal erosion control, river conservation, water supply, and sewerage systems.

“For the first Rolling Plan of 2026, PETRA has allocated RM195.6 million, an increase of 53.17 per cent compared to 2025.

“Of this amount, 27 projects worth RM172.4 million are funded by the Federal Government, while 17 projects worth RM23.24 million are financed through loans,” he said during his speech at the PETRA 2025 Sarawak Media Dinner held at a leading hotel here on Friday.

In the same speech, Datuk Amar Fadillah, who is also the Member of Parliament for Petra Jaya, emphasised that every sewerage project in Sarawak must consider local conditions, particularly in swampy areas and older settlements.

“In my constituency, most of the land is swampy. When you dig even a little below the surface, there’s a risk that older houses may sink, as their foundations are made of mangrove wood piles. When the soil dries, floors and parts of the structure can sometimes collapse.

“There was once a sewerage project in an old residential area, and I had to source RM11 million in funding to repair the damage. Thankfully, the Federal Government was able to provide the necessary allocation at the time,” he said.

Touching on the water sector, he revealed that under the Fifth Rolling Plan of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), eight loan-funded projects worth RM1.43 billion are currently being implemented.

These include the Landeh Water Treatment Plant (Kuching), the upgrading of the Nyabau Water Treatment Plant (Bintulu), the Sarawak Non-Revenue Water (NRW) Reduction Programme, and the improvement of the pipe distribution system across the state.

These projects, he said, aim to strengthen Sarawak’s water infrastructure for the benefit of its people while extending clean water supply to areas still lacking access.

As for the energy sector, he affirmed that government policies remain aligned with national strategies to ensure sustainable, balanced, and resilient energy development.

Among those present at the event were Igan MP and Chairman of Indah Water Konsortium, Ahmad Johnie Zawawi, PETRA Deputy Secretary-General (Energy), Mareena Mahpudz, Senior Division Secretary (Management), PETRA, Dato’ Mohd Norhisham Musa, Deputy Director of the Sarawak Public Communications Unit (UKAS), Mohamed Faizal Shah Ali, and President of the Kuching Division Journalists Association (KDJA), Ronnie Teo Teck Wei.

Also in attendance were Director-General of the Department of Irrigation and Drainage Malaysia, Ir. Mohamad Radzi Abdul Talib, Chief Executive Officer of the National Water Services Commission (SPAN), Dato’ Ahmad Faizal Abdul Rahman, Chief Executive Officer of Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd, Narendran Maniam, Chief Executive Officer of Pengurusan Aset Air Berhad, Ir. Zulkiflee Omar, Director-General of the Department of Sewerage Services, Alias Mohamed, Director-General of the Department of Water Supply (JBA), Ir. Ts. Anita Mohamed Shafie, Chief Executive Officer of MyPower, Asdirhyme Abdul Rasib, Deputy Director-General of the National Hydraulic Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM), Dato’ Ir. Dr. Nasehir Khan E.M. Yahaya, Director of the Development and Technical Facilitation Division of the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA), Ts. Steve Anthony Lojuntin, Director of the Energy Commission’s Safety Regulation Department, Ts. Nurhafiza Mohamed Hasan, and Corporate Communications Head of Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), Samsul Ariffin Zainuddin. -UKASnews

Reporter: Leya Ameera Annuar Rigos
Translator: Ryan Lim
Photographer: Ibanez