SIBU: The Sarawak government has been urged to prioritise and enhance Sibu's water supply system following a spate of water disruptions.
The latest incident was a 30-hour water cut on Feb 28, which caused outrage among residents.
"The water disruptions in Sibu have become increasingly frequent, mainly due to the insufficient capacity of the water treatment plant and ageing pipes that can no longer withstand pressure.
”Additionally, land subsidence often leads to pipe bursts and leaks, causing significant water loss and supply disruptions," said Sibu MP Oscar Ling in a statement on Sunday (March 2).
While acknowledging that the state government had approved a RM290mil upgrade for the Sibu Water Board’s (SWB) treatment plant last year to boost water production, he said the funds allocated for replacing old pipelines remain inadequate to fully resolve the issue.
Ling highlighted that recent pipe leaks and bursts have repeatedly occurred in front of the Sibu Foochow Association.
He urged SWB to request state government funding for a pipeline rerouting project in that area as a permanent solution, stressing the need for immediate action.
He also noted that SWB has not planned an alternative water supply network, leaving residents to endure the full impact of maintenance-related disruptions.
"If an alternative pipeline system were in place, residents might experience only low water pressure instead of a complete water cut," he said.
