By Jacob Achoi
KUCHING: March 15: More workshops related to the establishment of a single water entity in Sarawak will be organised, says Minister of Utility and Telecommunication Datuk Julaihi Narawi.
He said this would enable more input from various government departments and agencies to be gathered.
“To set up a single water entity (Sarawak Water Authority or SWA) is a massive exercise, so we will organise more workshops in the future.
“Not only that, we have also set up a Steering Committee and Technical Committee to do in-depth studies (for the establishment of SWA),” Julaihi told reporters here today after the closing of a workshop for setting up SWA at a hotel today.
More than 100 participants attended the three-day workshop.
Julaihi pointed out that he want to ensure that SWA is a viable corporate entity, disclosing that visits to Syarikat Air Negri Sembilan (SAINS) and National Water Service Commission (SPAN) has also been made in January this year to carry out benchmarking.
The visits, he stressed, was to find out the best model to be adopted in Sarawak.
“For SWA, we want a preferred model which is implementable and viable and supported by solid justification to enable Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication to submit to the Cabinet for consideration,” he said.
Last year, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg gave a two-year deadline for the single water entity, which will comprise Kuching Water Board, Laku Management Sdn Bhd, Sibu Water Board and Rural Water Supply Department, be set up.
“We are continuing with the process to achieve that,” Julaihi stressed. — DayakDaily
