KUCHING: The Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication conducted a benchmarking visit to the water regulators and water operators in Western Australia from Sept 20 to 26 to study their water industry structures, including legal and regulatory framework, governance, business model, organizational structure, and technology infrastructure.
The delegation led by its Minister Datuk Julaihi Narawi also paid a courtesy call on the Hon. Simone McGurk, Minister for Training, Water and Youth; who is responsible for water regulation in Western Australia at the Parliament House of Western Australia today.
The officials will visit the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER), the Economic Regulation Authority (ERA), and the Water Corporation that is the main water operator in Western Australia including its Southern Seawater Desalination Plant, Mundaring Dam, Serpentine Dam and Beenyup Advanced Water Recycling Plant.
The benchmarking visit will provide the delegates with an invaluable opportunity to assess Western Australia’s water industry model’s applicability and adaptability for the restructuring of the water supply sector in Sarawak with respect to the suitable models to be adopted for the single water supply entity and for the body corporate for State Water Authority.
“This benchmarking visit aims towards a development of an integrated water supply system and water resources management in Sarawak.
“By acquiring Western Australia’s knowledge and experiences, we hope to put in place a system that is reliable, economical and sustainable throughout Sarawak to uplift the economy and social well-being of the rakyat (the people). This is in line with initiatives under our Post COVID-19 Development Strategy or PCDS 2030” he said in a statement yesterday.
Also joining Julaihi were Datuk Amar Abu Bakar Marzuki, State Secretary; Datuk Liwan Lagang, Deputy Minister of Utility and Telecommunications; Datuk Sri Wan Lizozman Wan Omar, State Financial Secretary; and senior officers from relevant departments and agencies.
