KOTA SAMARAHAN: The RM30.4 million Samarindah High-Level Tank (TAT) Construction Project will strengthen the water supply system in Kota Samarahan and its rapidly developing surrounding areas.

Minister for Utility and Telecommunication, Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi, said the project represents a strategic government investment to ensure that water supply infrastructure development continues to stay ahead of current and future needs, particularly in rapidly growing areas.

He noted that Kota Samarahan has now emerged as one of Sarawak's major growth centres, with rapid development involving residential areas, institutions of higher learning, hospitals, government administrative centres, and expanding commercial and industrial zones.

"This growth directly increases the demand for quality and continuous water supply. The government must therefore ensure the water supply system is always ready to support the growing population and rapid economic development," he said.

He said this when speaking at the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Samarindah High-Level Tank Construction Project, here on Tuesday.

Dato Sri Julaihi disclosed that to date, 99 water supply projects have been planned and implemented in Samarahan Division, involving investments exceeding RM852 million.

Of that total, 68 projects have been completed, eight are currently under implementation, while 21 new projects are now at the planning stage.

He said the Samarindah High-Level Tank project would not only increase treated water storage capacity but would also play a key role in strengthening the water distribution system to make it more stable, efficient and resilient.

"Once completed, this project will increase water supply pressure, strengthen the reliability of the distribution system, and ensure water supply can be channelled more consistently to consumers, particularly in Samarindah and surrounding new development areas," he further explained.

Elaborating further, he said the government is actively implementing the Sarawak Water Grid and the Sarawak Water Supply Master Plan 2050 to ensure long-term water supply security across the state.

He said water demand in Sarawak currently stands at around 2,300 million litres a day and is expected to rise to 3,500 million litres a day by 2030.

In a related development, the Sarawak Government has also approved an allocation of RM1.1 billion to replace and upgrade 2,740 kilometres of ageing water pipes in phases over a five-year period starting from 2024.

Also present were Deputy Minister for Utility and Telecommunication Datuk Liwan Lagang, Stakan Assemblyman Datuk Hamzah Brahim, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication Datu Jafri Lias, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Sarawak Water Maselni Jamal, Deputy Resident of Samarahan Division Rais Ahmat, and Samarahan District Officer Ahmad Abdul Razak. -UKASnews

Translator: Uilson Ng