ON THE GROUND: Masing (third left) taking a close look at the sedimentation tank.
THE NERVE CENTRE: Masing (left) and others being briefed at the main control panel room.
Minister bears brunt of people’s ire over frequent water supply breakdown, calls for urgent rectification
KAPIT: Land Development Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing is angry because frequent dry taps here have resulted in him being “walloped” by Kapit folk day and night.
“I’m angry because I’m walloped by Kapit people because of this water problem. They call me day and night whenever there is no water. There is a lack of proper planning. The culprits should buck up to ratify this situation immediately.”
But he is not angry with the people. He is angry with the Ministry of Public Utilities for their very poor planning of water resources here.
“I hope the officer-in-charge (in the Ministry of Public Utilities) understands Kapit’s needs,” he fumed after attending a briefing on water supply at the Water Treatment Plant along Jalan Man here yesterday.
Masing, who is also Baleh assemblyman and PRS president, said a consultant had stated some 10 years ago that Kapit needed 24 million litres (MLD) of water per day, but the water treatment plant that was commissioned in March this year only had a 12MLD capacity.
Kapit presently needs 19MLD of water daily. Out of this, 12MLD comes from the new treatment plant and the remaining 7MLD from the old treatment plant, which is supposed to be decommissioned.
This situation leads to frequent breakdown of water supply.
“Mana cukup? (It’s not enough).Because the water treatment plant is not up to size, the people of Kapit suffer. If only they (officers) listened to the consultant, there would be enough water for everybody.”
Masing said the government must be accountable for the shortfall, and it cannot just sit and wait.
Those sitting in the office doing the planning must do their work properly, he said, because Kapit had grown very fast in the past 10 years, with many government projects, shophouses and residential houses cropping up everywhere. In addition, there are 300 new applications for water metres annually.
Masing said the capacity of the water treatment plant must be upgraded to 24MLD capacity. It should include constructing another sedimentation/filter tank, install four raw water pumps (from river to treatment plant) and four relief pumps (from filter tank to reservoir).
The current old six-inch pipes must be upgraded to 12-inch ones.
“As it is now, only 60 per cent of treated water goes to the consumers, while the remainder are lost due to leakage.
“As for those technicians and workers at the water treatment plant, they must be well versed with their job. If necessary send them to attend courses.”
Masing said the Public Water Works had tried its best, but the government did not give them the needed capacity.
“We need another RM 30 million to upgrade capacity.”
The briefing was conducted by officer-in-charge of water works, Jimbau Gisang, and assisted by a representative from PS Consultant, who wanted to be known only as Yap.
Also present were political secretary to the chief minister Wilson Nyabong, Walikota Kapit District Council Philimon Nuing, Masing’s special administrative officer Robert Liman, Pemanca Tan Kian Hoo, Kapitan Yong Thu Fook and Kapitan Micky Ngu Kong Siong.