KUCHING, Jan 5: Dudong assemblyman Dato Sri Tiong King Sing is calling for the delayed Kanowit Phase 2 pipe-laying project to be completed within two months’ time, instead of three.
He said the project which will supply water to Kanowit, Machan, Durin area was due in December, 2021 but is now only half-completed, resulting in Sibu Jaya residents having to rely on water trucks for clean water.
“The carbon steel cement-lined pipe project is now half-completed but the relevant contractors have cited insufficient manpower and equipment, traffic congestion at the construction site and other factors as reasons for the project’s delay.
“To me these are wholly unacceptable excuses,” he said following meeting with Sibu Water Board (SWB) and Sarawak Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) on the subject matter.
Whether the issues lie with SWB or contractors, Tiong said sufficient construction materials should have been prepared or planned ahead to meet the deadline.
As for the on-site traffic congestion which contractors claimed to have affected the construction process, he offered to arrange for the Dudong service centre staff to help coordinate with relevant bodies to ensure smooth project flow.
The Prime Minister’s special Envoy to China also urged related parties to ensure such piping projects are able to cope with rapid population growth within the next 15 or 20 years, to avoid the need to install more pipes in the future.
“In facing rapid development, needs to install pipes in built up areas would be more complicated and affect the system badly. Sibu in particular has flourished in recent years with more residential projects in full swing,” he said in a statement today.
Tiong, who is also Bintulu MP, said before the piping project is completed, SWB must actively and frequently provide water trucks to supply for the residents’ daily use.
“I also want to remind everyone involved that they must conduct frequent field inspections and identify areas that face water shortages from time to time.
“There must be 15 to 20 water trucks deployed to deliver water. They cannot wait until residents complain and make statements to the media before rushing out to deliver water supply,” he added. — Dayakdaily
