iM Sarawak brings clean water to four villages

LUNDU: Over 800 residents of Kampung Tebaro, Kampung Jampari, Kampung Senibong and Kampung Perian are finally enjoying continuous clean water supply, all thanks to the ‘iM Sarawak Clean Water Project’.

Upgrading works began in December last year, and took nearly two months to complete. Water from the new pipes started flowing out from the taps in early January.

Kampung Tebaro headman Lian Digai, 54, said the old PVC pipe channelling water to the village from a dam about 2km uphill had been in place since the 1980s and was susceptible to breakdown and leakage besides being unable to cope with the increased demand due to the growing population of residents.

“We feel very happy with the new system as it means we do not have to fear our taps running dry during peak hours or during the dry season,” he told reporters yesterday.

“Before, we had to rely on the river and spare water tanks. Now we don’t need to worry as the new polypipe supplies more than enough for our individual daily needs.”

Agreeing with Lian, Kampung Senibong headman Maxwell Jelly Mounsey said ever since the dam was raised, the water supply to his village had been greatly improved.

Acknowledging that the system was not 100 per cent perfect, Kampung Perian headman Anderu Simun said it was good enough for the time being but hoped that treated water supply would reach his village soon.

Kampung Tebaro and Kampung Jampari share the same water source, while Kampung Senibong and Kampung Perian share a common source.

Mas Gading MP Anthony Nogeh Gumbek, who assisted the villagers with their application for funds, said approximately RM100,000 was spent to upgrade the Kampung Tebaro-Kampung Jampari water supply while RM120,000 was spent on the water supply system for Kampung Senibong and Kampung Perian.

He told reporters that he had made it a priority for the villagers to have continuous clean water supply, in addition to getting better infrastructure and facilities such as roads and electricity supply.

During a simple ceremony yesterday to launch the new pipe system in Kampung Tebaro, Nogeh thanked the villagers for helping to realise the project through gotong-royong.

At the same time, he encouraged them to keep up the good work by ensuring that the dams, storage tanks and pipes were regularly maintained.

“I believe that this current set-up can last 20 years, but I hope that by then, the piped water supply would be brought in,” he said.

Later, Nogeh together with Opar assemblyman Ranum Mina and 1Malaysia Sarawak Advisory Council (1MSAC) members Datuk Billy Abit Joo and Ir Irwan Zulkarnain Muhammad Hasbie as well as village headmen, representatives of government agencies and villagers visited the water storage site for Kampung Tebaro and Kampung Jampari.

After that, Nogeh made a brief stop at Kampung Senibong to meet community leaders and villagers from Kampung Senibong and Kampung Perian.

The upgrading works for Kampung Tebaro-Kampung Jampari involved replacing the old PVC pipes with approximately 4.5km of polypipes. For Kampung Senibong-Kampung Perian, upgrading works included enlarging one of the existing dams, building two new water storage tanks and replacing 3.5km of PVC pipes with poly pipe.

According to a media factsheet distributed during the visit, iM Sarawak is a social development initiative led by 1Malaysia Sarawak Advisory Council (1MSAC) to help improve the quality of life of various communities in rural and remote areas of the state.

iM Sarawak projects are carried out by Rakyat 1Malaysia and Yayasan 1Malaysia Development Berhad in partnership with Ihsan Perdana Sdn Bhd, various state agencies and local entities.

Meanwhile, Nogeh who is also 1MSAC member told reporters that construction of a new CIQ at Serikin could begin next year under the fourth rolling plan of the Tenth Malaysia Plan.

Nogeh also announced a RM10,000 grant to improve Kampung Tebaro’s community hall as well as RM15,000 for Kampung Senibong’s community hall.