KUCHING: Kampung Bitokan in Lundu is running dangerously dry as red tape clogs up the process of delivering clean water used for drinking and cooking.
Mordi Bimol, special assistant to Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen, vented his frustrations in a press statement after a long and
fruitless dance with government agencies in his attempt to intercede on the villagers’
behalf.
“To get water from Public Works Department (JKR), I need to go through Department of Social Welfare (DSW).
“DSW will forward the approved application to JKR. Only then, JKR can send the water to the people,” he said.
When Mordi called JKR Lundu, the officer asked him to check if there was an issue with the village’s gravity water supply as it recently rained.
“That was the answer given. Ridiculous! The tank is dry!” Mordi wrote.
As Mordi was in Kuching at the time, he called DSW Lundu Branch and was told the only way to proceed was to go personally to their office and fill in a form.
The next step, Mordi found, was to visit the Ketua Kampung for an application letter, acknowledgement and list of residents to be sent to DWS Lundu.
This will then be forwarded to the DSW headquarters in Kuching for approval, before DWS Lundu can instruct JKR Lundu to
deliver the water.
Mordi said that the long process was unacceptable when people urgently needed something as basic as water.
“Why not immediately go to the ground after receiving a complaint to investigate the situation and take action immediately? Don’t expect people to come to the office with such complicated documentations or procedures. They just want a clean water supply for drinks and cooking,” he lamented.
The dry weather has forced
the villages to depend on pond water, which is not safe for pregnant women, babies or very young children.
“Because of the very complicated procedure, my DAP comrades and I have to go for alternative solution: get the water supply from JKR Bau with our own transport and tank, delivered it to few families in Bitokan yesterday afternoon, house to house.
“Just give us a call, we will come to help and give the best that we can,” Mordi said.
He urged the government to make good of their ‘people first’ promise and respond immediately to the urgent needs of villages like Kampung Bitokan.
“According to the people of Kampung Bitokan, RM30,000 was given out to their village and another RM30,000 for Kampung Selampit to upgrade the gravity water supply in the area four months ago. The project completed three months ago but that project failed to give a better solution to the villagers. It is even worse now,” he bemoaned.
Villagers also told Mordi that their village head announced help was due to arrive on June 25 but the lorries bearing water have not yet been sighted.
“People get angrier when JKR said they cannot deliver the water because their lorry broke down. Go find other solutions and please don’t give such an excuse. Everybody is paying tax. Everybody deserved the facilities from the government,” Mordi said.