ISKANDAR PUTERI: An emergency crisis meeting involving water operator Ranhill SAJ will be called on Thursday (May 22) morning to address the unplanned water disruption faced by more than 100,000 account holders.
Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the water disruption, stemming from damaged pumps at the Sungai Johor water treatment plant, has affected many people and must be resolved immediately.
“The pumps were supposed to be repaired completely on Wednesday (May 21), but it is still a problem.
“I have instructed for an emergency crisis meeting to be called this morning to ensure that the pumps will be repaired as soon as possible,” he said during the state assembly sitting in Kota Iskandar here on Thursday.
Onn Hafiz, who was not scheduled to speak during the sitting on Thursday, said he wanted to make an impromptu address about the water disruption that has affected tens of thousands of people in Johor Baru.
He added that he has also instructed other districts to provide support by sending water tankers and mineral water to the affected housing areas to ensure adequate supply for households.
The Star reported that an estimated 300,000 consumers in Johor Baru have experienced unplanned water disruptions since Wednesday because of faulty pumps at the Sungai Johor water treatment plant.
Ranhill SAJ said the motors for all six raw water pumps at the plant were damaged after being submerged during heavy rain on Tuesday.
The repairs were initially expected to be completed by midnight and water supply restored in phases. It reportedly said that 16 water tankers have been dispatched to critical places such as hospitals and dialysis centres.
As of Thursday morning, Ranhill SAJ’s Facebook page said the repairs are at the 50% mark.
The affected areas include the city area, Tebrau, Tiram, Kempas, SKudai, Iskandar Puteri and Bukit Indah.
