By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 25: Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen has lodged a police report against Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd and the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) following a major water disruption on Sept 22 that left thousands of residents and businesses without supply for about 24 hours.
Chong noted that the water supply disruption was caused by damage to a 600mm ductile iron (DI) pipe at Jalan Canna when Sarawak Metro’s contractor carried out piling works for the KUTS Blue Line project.
The incident, he stressed, forced many households to endure a day-long dry spell while hawkers and food stall operators were compelled to shut down their businesses temporarily.
“This is to hold the two government agencies accountable for their acts when carrying out public works.
“I believe with proper and careful planning and on-site survey, incidents like this could easily be avoided. As such, I do not rule out the possibility of negligence in the design and planning work,” he said in a statement today.
Citing Section 425 of the Penal Code, Chong, who is also Padungan assemblyman, said the act could amount to “mischief” if it caused damage to public property, while Section 427 further provides for imprisonment of between one and five years, or fine, if the damage exceeds RM25.
“Though the DI pipe is owned by Sarawak Water Sdn Bhd, which is also a Sarawak government agency, Sarawak Metro or KUTS under the Sarawak Ministry of Transport cannot take advantage of the fact that they belong to the same government and thus won’t be sued for any negligent act of one another,” he said.
Chong further pointed out that Sarawak Water’s revenue is derived from the people of Sarawak, and therefore, as a public utility, its services must not be compromised by negligence in the implementation of government projects.
“I hope there will be more accountability and responsibility in the implementation of the KUTS project,” he said. — DayakDaily
