56 Sawas projects to start next year

LIMBANG: The Sarawak government will roll out 56 projects under phase two of the Sarawak Alternative Water Supply Scheme (Sawas) starting next year to achieve maximum coverage by 2025.

Ministry of Public Utilities kicked of the first phase of Sawas in 2017 to ensure rural areas in the state have access to clean water supply, with 18 remote settlements identified for implementation.

Addressing the people in Kampung Belantak while visiting Sawas projects in Limbang and Kampung Salampun in Ulu Merapok, Lawas, Assistant

Minister of Utilities (Water Supply) Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi said Sawas is the state government’s approach of ensuring villages or longhouses outside the local water reticulation network to have access to safe and clean drinking water.

Also present were Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, Limbang MP Hasbi Habibollah, Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) deputy director (Operations) Ahmad Selihin Che Said, Bloom Richmark Sdn

Bhd director Jeffery Jong and Kampung Belantak headman Aji Ali.

The RM4.6-million Sawas project in the village, which is only accessible by river, was completed in 2018 by Richmark.

Meanwhile, 29 families in Kampung Salampun, Ulu Merapok are already benefitting from this alternative water supply system implemented by JBALB which has completed five packages since 2017.

Each package was tailored to the respective local demand and peculiarities in bringing treated water to the communities.

Dr Abdul Rahman (third left), flanked on his right by Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail and Aji, checks out the clean water provided under SAWAS project in Kampung Belantak in Limbang.