By Jaythaleela K
MIRI, Sept 8: The state government under Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) will continue to support more water supply projects done via work party basis, involving non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in providing gravity feed systems to rural areas.
According to Assistant Minister of Utilities (Water Supply) Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, with the success of three pilot projects carried out in Long Puak, Umah Akeh and Sekolah Kebangsaan St Pius in Long San by the Malaysian Humanitarian Movement (MYHumanitarian) and International Youth Centre (IYC) Kuala Lumpur, they perhaps can expand the programme to other rural areas as well.
“Their tremendous work has ensured the implementetation of these projects which were done via gotong-royong together with the villagers, exceeded our expectations,” he said.
Abdul Rahman disclosed this on Monday during dinner of the MyHumanitarian volunteers hosted by Telang Usan Assemblyman Dennis Ngau.
Nearly 100 volunteers from the NGOs attended the gathering to commemorate the completion of these three projects carried out by the volunteers at Long Pual, Umah Akeh and SK St Pius.
The pioneer project was first conducted at Long Puak in April last year, followed by Umah Akeh longhouse and SK St Pius in Long San.
Earlier on, Dennis in his opening speech thanked the Sarawak government and Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg for his continuous support of this programme.
“All these water projects is done as complement to what the state government is undertaking for Sarawak. Eventually I would love to see all longhouses and settlements in my constituency be built with stand-alone water systems to the standards the government placed,” he said.
The gotong-royong projects carried out at Uma Akeh Longhouse and SK St Pius Long San, a boarding school with more than 400 students coming from more than 15 longhouses nearby and school staff depended on unreliable old gravity systems, which left teachers and students with many session without water, forcing students to bathe in the nearby stream.
“The school water issues was brought up to me several times and I have been very concerned and working on ways to bring the long outstanding problem to a close,” Dennis pointed out.
They are also planning to do another two gotong royong project at two Penan Settlements that is Long Latie, Sungai Layun and Long Sayan, Ulu Sungai Apoh.
Also present was MyHumanitarian president Khairul Annuar Mansor.—DayakDaily
