‘JBALB must tackle water woes in Beluru fast’
The Rural Water Supply Department (JALB) has been tasked with tackling immediately the water supply problem that has been plaguing the people in Beluru, Bakong over the past one month.
MIRI: The Rural Water Supply Department (JALB) has been tasked with tackling immediately the water supply problem that has been plaguing the people in Beluru, Bakong over the past one month.
In stating this, Assistant Minister of Local Government Datu Dr Penguang Manggil says he is fully aware of this, having informed the department about this complaint many times.
“I believe that the JALB has an existing SOP (standard operating procedure) in line with Sarawak’s civil service motto of ‘a world-class civil service’.
“Therefore, they should tackle such problem immediately after receiving report from the ground, instead of just sitting on it.
“In fact, I have informed JALB Miri about this problem many times and requested that the problem be rectified urgently, but to my disappointment, no action has been taken,” he said when contacted yesterday.
It is reported that the teachers and students of SMK Bakong have been depending on the roadside water kiosk near Beluru town for their daily water supply over the past several days.
More than 300 students from this secondary school, as well as pupils from the neighbouring primary school SK Beluru, are facing problem in getting potable water supply, as the taps there only dispense smelly, yellowish water.
Both SMK Bakong and SK Beluru are boarding schools.
For now, the school-children are relying on water from a selfservice water kiosk by the road leading to Lapok town, about one kilometre from the schools.
Another alternative for them is to buy bottled water, priced at RM10 per carton (each containing a dozen of 1.5-litre bottles), but this can be a financial burden to those who cannot afford it.
Ketua Kaum (headman) of Kampung Melayu Beluru, Jeparali Tiong, said the problem of smelly, murky water coming out of the taps was also affecting the residents in the Bakong area – according to him, the problem has been on-going for about a month.
Following the issue raised by Japerali, Penguang said he had contacted JALB Sarawak director Chang Kuet Shian, as well as the permanent secretary to the Ministry of Utility, Dato Alice Jawan.
“I’ve contacted them, (informing them) to respond and explain to the people in my state constituency (Marudi), especially those in areas affected by the water woes.
“They need to deal with the said problem as soon as possible, and to live up to the motto of the Sarawak civil service, of ‘being a world-class civil service’,” said Penguang further.
When checked yesterday morning, the water from the taps at SMK Bakong was still murky and smelly.
By afternoon, the water supply to the secondary school appeared to have been cut off.
I believe that the JALB has an existing SOP (standard operating procedure) in line with Sarawak’s civil service motto of ‘a world-class civil service’.
Datu Dr Penguang Manggil