By Jacob Achoi
KUCHING, Oct 3: Eighteen villages in Puncak Borneo, involving a total of 1,109 households, are still waiting for the Ministry of Finance’s (MOF) approval of a project worth RM129 million for treated water supply.
According to Puncak Borneo MP Datuk Willie Mongin, the 18 villages have instead been relying on a gravity-fed water system.
The affected villages are Kampung (Kpg) Petag (70 households), Kpg Bangau (48), Kpg Sitang (59), Kpg Bukit Nanas (44), Kpg Pesang (74), Kpg Semeru (48), Kpg Plaman Dunuk (117), Kpg Padus Stubot (23), Kpg Bisira Rayang (39), Kpg Rudan (29), Kpg Danu (70), Kpg Begu (95), Kpg Nusaraya (21), Kpg Biya Kemas (53), Kpg Parang (63), and Kpg Assum (39).
“For the 18 villages, the treated water supply project falls under the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) and will be implemented under Phase II, with an allocation of RM129 million, which is still awaiting approval from the MOF,” he said during the launch of upgrading works for the Kampung Sitang gravity-fed water supply project today.
An allocation of RM100,000 has been provided for the upgrading works, which include dam improvements and the installation of six water tanks capable of storing a total of 2,400 gallons of water for each household in the village. The project is a collaboration with the Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB).
Willie noted that Kampung Sitang is among three villages—alongside nearby Kampung Petag and Kampung Bangau—that experience inconsistent gravity water supply, especially during dry weather when dams dry up, forcing residents to depend on emergency aid from the Welfare Department.
“Out of the 18 villages that rely on the gravity-fed system, only these three face supply disruptions, particularly during dry spells,” he added.
Also present at the event were JBALB assistant divisional engineer Siet Ung Wu and village chief Joseph Merot.
On May 1, it was reported that the RM129 million Phase II water project was originally approved in 2017 but was cancelled under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government during Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s tenure. It was reinstated in 2019 following his appeal. — DayakDaily
