By Marlynda Meraw
KUCHING, Dec 1: The Minister for Utility and Telecommunication (MUT), Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi, has rebutted allegations made by Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong that Sarawak Water Sdn Bhd (Sarawak Water) has owed its staff overtime payments since August 2025.
He questioned the credibility of the information following Yong’s claim on November 26, 2025.
“The claim that Sarawak Water has not paid overtime since August is baffling, because overtime continues to be processed and paid as usual, and no staff has ever raised such an issue,” said Julaihi during his ministerial winding-up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) today.
He also dismissed allegations that contract staff were promised a 20 per cent salary increase that has not been reflected in their new basic pay, stating that the claim was false and that the source of the information was similarly unclear.
Julaihi, who is also the Sebuyau assemblyman, took issue with Yong’s criticism regarding the deployment of water tankers during a recent pipe burst incident caused by third-party works by the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) project at Sungai Stutong, Tabuan Jaya.
He noted that he was aware of Yong raising the matter on social media and provided a factual breakdown of the resources deployed.
During the incident, he explained, the Southern Region division of Sarawak Water mobilised water tankers to provide temporary water supply.
“The Southern region of Sarawak Water has supplied two large water tankers with a capacity of 10,000L and two small water tankers with a capacity of 5,000L of water.
“In addition, two other external water tankers with a capacity of 5,000L were used for a temporary supply during the incident,” he said.
He urged Yong to look beyond her immediate surroundings, take into account the size of Kuching, and be fair when commenting on the water supply situation in the Southern Region of Sarawak. — DayakDaily
