KUCHING: The maintenance of the water reticulation system and the quality of telecommunication services in federal-government premises in the state needs to be coordinated with the Sarawak Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication.
In stating this, Minister Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi said this to ensure that there is no issue concerning unsatisfactory water supply and telecommunication services.
Julaihi (centre) chairs the meeting with 26 federal and state government agencies on Sarawak’s role and responsibilities on water supply and telecommunications coverage. (Photo: UKAS)
“The Ministry often receives complaints about issues on water supply and telecommunications at federal government premises which is due to poorly maintained internal water reticulation systems in addition to the unsatisfactory coverage and quality of telecommunication services,” he said.
“Since the maintenance of water supply at federal government premises is not under the responsibility of the Sarawak government, I call on federal government agencies as the owner of the premises to ensure the internal water reticulation system and telecommunication services at its premises are maintained and at a good level.
“This is because based on the Water Supply Regulations, 1995, water supply agencies in Sarawak are only responsible for supplying water and maintaining water supply facilities up to the premises’ water meters only.
Julaihi Narawi (centre) speaks to reporters at the press conference.
“However, as the state’s technical department, we are ready to assist in solving the problem in terms of providing technical advice, while the allocation for maintenance should be provided by the federal government because the relevant premises belong to them,” he said.
He said this in a press conference after chairing a meeting with 26 federal and state government agencies on water supply issues and telecommunication services at federal government premises here on Tuesday (Nov 7).
The first meeting held with all government agencies in Sarawak was to discuss the way forward as well as Sarawak’s role and responsibilities on water supply and telecommunications coverage at federal government premises.
Julaihi said agencies under his Ministry such as the Kuching Water Board and the Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) can work together to help resolve the issue.
Meanwhile, according to a press release by the Ministry, the issue of water supply faced at federal premises is due to pumps and water tanks that were not maintained as well as leaking water pipes.
It added the issue has not only caused water supply problems in the premises involved but also caused water wastage and also affected the water pressure and water supply to other nearby areas.
Among the complaints received are from SMK Agama, SMK Sedaya, SMK Kanowit, Camp Rascom Batu 10 and Wisma Federaluk in Sibu, Malaysian Police Training Centre (PULAPOL), Puncak Borneo Prison, SMK Pedawan, SMK Lundu and SMK Sematan in Kuching as well as Mengkalap Immigration, Customs and Quarantine (ICQ) Complex, Merapok ICQ, SMK Trusan and Lawas Old Hospital.
On telecommunication services, the Ministry said that Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) Sarawak also conducts mobile and fixed network audit tests periodically at strategic locations that have been identified throughout the year including at federal government premises to ensure every telecommunications service provider complies with the mandatory standard that has been set by MCMC.
In addition, it added, the federal government also implemented a Point of Presence (PoP) telecommunications project involving 741 schools in Sarawak.
This PoP project is a telecommunications infrastructure to receive high-speed broadband services for schools in the rural areas of Sarawak, and it is hoped that such telecommunications infrastructure facilities will be equipped with high-speed broadband services in related schools for the purpose of education and learning in schools.
