‘Be efficient to meet needs of customers’

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GET-TOGETHER: (From right) Chan, Entri, Rundi, and Thian during the opening ceremony of Laku’s 17th annual dinner in Bintulu on Monday night.

BINTULU: Providing safe, reliable, affordable and adequate uninterrupted water supply is the priority of the Northern Sarawak Water Board (Laku).

As such, it should attend to complaints and reports professionally and without delay, said Public Utilities Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, reiterating that staff should now be better at handling customer inquiries as present-day customers are smarter, more informed and have more challenging needs than before.

“Therefore, a public utility company should go the ‘extra mile’ to address their instant request or inquiries. Know the product and services that you are serving well.

“If you exhibit signs that you don’t know your ‘craft’ inside out, you not only risk the chance of ruining your own personal reputation but the company’s image too,” he said in his text of speech read by Assistant Public Utilities (Water Supply) Minister Datuk Sylvester Entri at Laku’s 17th annual dinner at ParkCity Everly Hotel here on Monday night.

Saying that Bintulu was a big industrial town with many industries, he pointed out that the bulk of Laku’s revenue was generated from these industries which warranted the utility company to be efficient in ensuring sufficient and uninterrupted supply of water with no compromise on quality.

“I understand that some of these consumers are also here with us tonight and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your support all these years,” said Awang Tengah, who is also Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment and Minister of Industrial Development.

He was also pleased to note that Laku Bintulu had also helped out in supplying water to Samalaju Industrial Park by operating the raw water pumping system and water treatment plant at Samalaju while it was also in the midst of upgrading the Nyabau Water Treatment Plant from 77 MLD to 154 MLD to meet the needs of Samalaju Industrial Park.

“This is necessary in order to ensure adequate reserve margin is maintained especially during peak periods and prolonged droughts.

“Your expertise in operating and managing the water supply system has ensured the industries at the Samalaju area are provided with the required water for their construction and testing activities,” he said.

At the same time, Awang Tengah called on all water supply authorities to emulate Sibu Water Board, which had become the first water authority to supply chlorine-free water in the country.

He also expressed his sincere appreciation to everyone who had helped out in the oil spill incident at Sg Liku, Miri in March this year.

Among those present were Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Electricity and Telecommunications) Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Bintulu Resident Muhamad Yakup Kari, Laku Management Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Hubert Thian, Miri mayor Lawrence Lai, Laku Management CEO Wong Tiong Kai, Laku Bintulu area manager Chan Kuet Shian and board members.