‘We’ll cope’ Malaysians are not taking any chances and have been busy preparing to face the water disruption that starts today.
Klang Valley folk all prepared but rue the inconvenience
KUALA LUMPUR: Businesses and households are understandably not happy with the water disruption, which starts today, but they have no choice except to deal with it the best they can.
Although many are prepared to live with limited water supply over the next four days, there are still some inconveniences they wish they can avoid.
A laundrette operator in Sri Hartamas, who only wanted to be known as Ooi, said she had no choice but to delay delivery of clean clothes to her customers by a week.
“They could usually collect their clean clothes the next day. But even when the water supply returns this weekend, it would still be murky and not suitable for washing,” she said.
Ooi’s husband, who wished to be known as Ng, 47, is also upset with the water cuts as he has to close his kopitiam business in Damansara Damai for the next four days.
“We need a lot of water to wash and cook and I don’t have a tank big enough to store water for four days. I have to endure losses to my business,” he said.
The couple added that they would take the time to travel back to Ng’s hometown in Sekinchan, which is not affected by the water disruption.
“Over there, we can bathe and do other chores without worrying about running out of water,” Ng said.
Meanwhile, a manager at a mamak restaurant chain in Kuala Lumpur said preparations had been arranged to deal with the cuts.
The manager, who did not want to be named, said the affected branches had stocked up on water and additional supply would be delivered from other branches not affected, using the company’s own lorries.
“The delivered supply will be mainly used for cooking and cleaning,” he added.
However, he said he would have to close the toilets to customers during the period but there would be water to wash their hands.
Another mamak restaurant operator in Petaling Jaya is not too bothered.
He said the restaurant’s water tank was big enough to store sufficient water to see them through the four days.
“I’ve experienced longer disruptions before without having to store too much water and I think this time will be no different,” he added.
Families, however, have taken a more cautious approach and have stocked up on the precious resource for their needs.
Wan Nazri Wan Ibrahim, who lives with his wife on the fifth floor of Flat AU3/1 in Keramat, said he made use of all the pails and basins at home to store water.
‘’I have a water storage tank in my kitchen. ‘’I have some pails ready. My wife and I will ensure all pails are filled with water before the night ends,’’ said the 47-year-old, who also operates a food stall nearby his flat.
For his business, Wan Nazri said several huge drums were used to store water, which would be used for cooking and cleaning.
‘’There will be some inconvenience; I have no choice but to deal with it,’’ he said, adding that he was thankful that water tankers would come to his flat’s area to distribute water.
Other families have found other ways to cope with the water cuts as some of them were seen filling up large water containers at their local water dispensers while shops were seen displaying bottles of water outside their outlets.
Meanwhile, Syabas said 82 water tankers and 17 jumbo tankers would be mobilised during the water disruption.
Its customer relations and communications department head Abdul Raof Ahmad said that apart from lorry tankers, 106 static tanks would be placed at strategic locations and at critical premises such as hospitals, clinics and dialysis centres.
‘’We will also activate 10 local service centres (PKS) to assist in providing water supply.
“PKS will be activated from 8am on April 26 and will remain in 24-hour operation until water supply is fully restored,’’ he said, adding that Syabas had not asked any outside parties for assistance as all its assets would be deployed to help consumers.
In cases such as funerals or weddings, customers can contact the Syabas call centre at 15300 and WhatsApp 019-281 6739 or 019-280 0919.