MIRI: The Northern Sarawak Water Board (Lembaga Air Kawasan Utara – Laku) is turning to Geographical Information System (GIS) and network modelling to lower its costs and raise its efficiency in supplying water.
LAKU IS 15 YEARS OLD: Entri (third left) flanked by Dr Stephen Rhund and Datuk Lee Kim Shin in cutting Lakuís 15th anniversary cake.
Minister of Public Utilities Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said the network modeling in Bintulu would be expanded to Miri and Limbang system for operational cost efficiency.
“It will also enable the management to decide which critical areas need to be upgraded to serve customers better,” he said.
He said this in his speech read out by Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Water Supplies) and Assistant Minister of Land Development, Sylvester Entri Muran, who officiated at the 15th anniversary celebration of Northern Sarawak Water Board (Laku) at a hotel here on Thursday night.
Tengah said Laku, which was formed in 1996, had done well in weathering the challenging global economic uncertainties that caused the costs of utilities provision, water treatment and production to increase.
It has met the National Drinking Water Quality Standard and made profits; and paid remuneration to staff annually due to prudent and conservative management by the board and management team.
Tengah pointed out that the rural water supply programme by the government under its National Key Results Area (NKRA) would be connected to the respective reticulation systems of Kuching Water Board, SIBU Water Board, Public Works Department and Laku.
“Laku must study its existing reticulation system to be able to supply treated water to consumers effectively and satisfactorily,” he said.
On public complaints and requests, he said they should be attended to promptly and efficiently in tandem with the high performance culture needed in the organisation which accords top priority to providing safe, reliable, affordable and adequate uninterrupted supply.
This calls for innovative and creative staff in improving work processes, increasing productivity and customers’ satisfaction.
Tengah said training and human capital development remains crucial in promoting well-being of the staff and boosting morale with career development opportunities.
“Learning is a life-long process, and we are never too old to learn,” he said.
Assistant Minister of Public and Assistant Minister of Environment and Public Health, Datuk Dr Stephen Rhundi Utom, Assistant Minister of Communications cum Assistant Minister of Sports, Datuk Lee Kim Shin who is former LAKU board chairman, and Miri Resident Ganie Ugay were also present at the function.