By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, June 24: A total of 28 areas, covering four million hectares or about 30 per cent of Sarawak, have been gazetted as water catchments in one of the State’s key measures to ensure a clean and sustainable water supply through effective source management.
Minister of Utility and Telecommunication Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi emphasised that the move aligns with Sarawak’s broader strategy to future-proof its water sector and support long-term economic development by transforming water supply infrastructure, enhancing interconnectivity, and improving service delivery statewide.
Currently, Sarawak records an overall water supply coverage of 85.4 per cent, with rural areas at about 70.5 per cent. However, Julaihi noted that the State’s pipeline systems remain fragmented, being served by isolated schemes that are not yet fully integrated.
“To address this, Sarawak has formulated a comprehensive Water Supply Master Plan and Water Grid system aimed at achieving full coverage by 2030. This transformative plan includes upgrading and connecting regional water grids across the Southern, Central, and Northern regions, thereby creating a fully integrated network throughout Sarawak,” he said.
He made these remarks during his keynote address on “Regional Partnerships – Tapping Southeast Asia’s Water Market: Regional Synergy in Tackling Shared Water Challenges” at the Singapore Business Forum in conjunction with Spotlight Singapore at the International Water Week 2025 on Monday (June 23).
As part of the strategy, larger-capacity water treatment plants are being developed and linked to the main grid. Some smaller plants will be repurposed into booster stations, while remote communities beyond the grid’s reach will continue to receive clean water through the Sarawak Alternative Water Supply (SAWAS) programme.
Recognising the need for coordinated management, Julaihi highlighted that Sarawak is also establishing a single water supply entity by consolidating the Kuching Water Board, Sibu Water Board, and LAKU Management Sdn Bhd. The Sarawak Rural Water Supply Department will join the unified body at a later stage, streamlining operations and improving efficiency.
“Digitalisation is central to this transformation. Key initiatives include smart metering, Internet-of-Things (IoT) applications like smart leak detection, a centralised SCADA command centre, and other advanced technologies aimed at reducing non-revenue water and optimising service delivery,” he shared.
Julaihi also underscored the importance of regional and international collaboration to tackle shared water challenges, especially as climate change leads to increasingly unpredictable and extreme weather patterns.
“Sarawak may not share its watersheds with other countries, but the impacts of climate change transcend borders. No country can face these challenges in isolation,” he said.
Sarawak is actively seeking partnerships in areas such as integrated water resource management, private investment, capacity building, and the transfer of technological expertise.
“The State is also exploring public-private collaborations to strengthen water sustainability across the board,” he added.
During the visit, the Sarawak delegation toured Singapore’s Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute (NEWRI) and Separation Technologies Applied Research & Translation Centre (START) to assess cutting-edge filtration and analytical technologies for potential adoption back home.
The team also visited the Public Utilities Board (PUB) Command Centre to observe how machine learning is applied to predictive maintenance and asset management for water utilities.
“This engagement reinforces Sarawak’s commitment to innovation and forging stronger regional ties in building a resilient, efficient and sustainable water sector,” Julaihi said.
Accompanying the Minister were the Ministry’s permanent secretary Datu Jafri Lias, JBALB director Ir Ts Awang Mohammad Fadillah Awang Redzuan, and Malaysian Water Association (Sarawak Branch) chairman Ts Kelvin Kuek Hann Yih. — DayakDaily
