KUCHING: Efforts to ensure rural and remote communities in Sarawak receive clean water supply more efficiently and comprehensively have been strengthened following the state government’s takeover of Rural Water Supply (BALB) projects from the Federal Government.

Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg received a courtesy call from Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Patinggi Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi during a meeting here on Tuesday, which witnessed the handover of an official note on the implementation of the projects from the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW).

Also present were Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Sarawak Minister for Utility and Telecommunication Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi, Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki and KKDW Deputy Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang.

The strategic move is expected to accelerate the delivery of basic amenities to the people, particularly in rural and remote areas that still require more efficient and sustainable access to clean water.

Datuk Patinggi Dr Ahmad Zahid, who arrived in Kuching on Monday, was in the state for an official working visit focusing on the implementation and coordination of infrastructure development projects.

Earlier, he also chaired the BALB Projects Implementation Coordination Meeting with the Sarawak Government to ensure that the projects implementation could be streamlined and coordinated more effectively.

The meeting, among others, focused on efforts to expedite project implementation and enhance the efficiency of clean water supply delivery to the people. -UKASnews