Dr Rundi: We’ll do our best and be transparent

Minister for Public Utilities Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom ( standing, 8th right), Assistant Minister of Water Supply Datuk Liwan Lagang (standing 9th right), Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Electricity and Telecommunication) Dr Abdul Rahman Junadi (standing 10th right), Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Public Utilities Dato Ir Alice Jawan (standing 7th right) and President of the Malaysian Water Association Datuk Ir Abdul Kadir Mohd Din (standing 5th right) in a group photo with other officials and booth operators after the presentation of Certificates of Appreciation during the Gala Dinner.

KUCHING: RM2.8 billion will be spent in the next two years to address water problems in the state.

Minister for Public Utilities Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said there are a lot of challenges for Sarawak to catch up with the other states in Semananjung, and as far as water is concerned, the Ministry is given only two years.

“As far as the water agencies are concerned, such as the Kuching Water Board, Sibu Water Board and Northern Water Board (LAKU), we want them to be the anchor to make sure that water shortage areas will be addressed according to our plans.

“We have RM2.8 billion to be spent in the next two years and as far as I am concerned I am still skeptical but we will be closely monitoring our projects and so on and we will be very transparent to enable us to answer all kinds of questions that may arise. We will try our best to be transparent and do things in accordance with proper procedures and so on,” Dr Rundi said at the 4^th Borneo Water & Wastewater Exhibition & Conference 2018 Gala Dinner at Pullman Hotel here on Wednesday.

“As human beings, we are submitted to all kinds of shortcomings but I believe as a team we should be able to advise one another and we should be able to advise or get advice from people, thrid party from outside and those of you who are experts in water so that we will be able to actually do what the people are expecting us to do or deliver what they want in time,” he said.

During the dinner a book titled “Operation of Water Treatment Plant and Water Supply Dam in Malaysia” written by Ir Chan Chiang Heng was officially launched.

Dr Rundi also presented certificates of appreciations to booth operators participating in the two-day exhibition and conference.

Also present were Assistant Minister of Water Supply Datuk Liwan Lagang, Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Electricity and Telecommunication) Dr Abdul Rahman Junadi, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Public Utilities Dato Ir Alice Jawan and President of the Malaysian Water Association, Datuk Ir Abdul Kadir Mohd Din.