‘Divert funding from proposed airport to improve Kapit’s water supply’
KAPIT: The Sarawak government has been called on to divert funding from the proposed Tunoh Airport to improve water supply here.
Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sungai Kapit chairman Teng Mee Hieng said the poor quality of treated water supply needs to be addressed urgently.
“There is no valid reason to say no funding for a water treatment expansion project. I am of the opinion that the RM100 million for the proposed Tunoh Airport should instead be used for the improvement of water supply in Kapit. The airport can be considered later,” he told a press conference yesterday following the murky tea-like piped water supply here over the last two weeks. Teng also expressed disappointment with the Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB).
“I went over to JBALB office to meet the staff. Sadly, no one responded to my enquiry. Instead, they told me to telephone JBALB headquarters in Kuching.
“This is ridiculous. The men on the ground should know pretty well to have the answer what happened at the water treatment plant. Is it the negligence of the staff or because of a burst pipe, or the main storage tank is dirty?” he questioned.
He pointed out water supply to the outskirts of Kapit, especially Jalan Bukit Goram and Jalan Selirik, is also poor.
“Kapit is gifted with numerous rivers and streams. The water treatment plant receives water from the mighty Rajang River. But very often there is a dry tap phenomenon.
“This should not happen,” he said.