Abang Johari says S’wak govt will help Ministry of Utilities implement its projects, cannot wait for federal funding

KUCHING: The Sarawak government strives to make sure that water and electricity supply would reach all Sarawakians by 2025, by assisting the Ministry of Utilities in any way that it possibly can.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg regards this as an issue of utmost importance and one that needs urgent attention.

He also explains that every year, Sarawak needs to wait up till October for the annual allocation to come from the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development, which has been causing difficulties when it comes to implementing utility projects.

“It is with hope that all agencies related to utilities could prepare for this difficult period to ensure that 100 per cent of the people in Sarawak would enjoy utility facilities by 2025. This is because we can no longer wait for the allocation from the federal government,” he said during the Ministry of Utilities’ ‘Excellence Award Night’ at the Waterfront Hotel here on Friday.

Adding on, Abang Johari called for the problems related to utilities to be resolved immediately within the stipulated time, as the Sarawak government plans to continue demanding for oil and gas royalties, which should be able to contribute funds meant for the development of utilities in Sarawak.

On another matter, the chief minister also said the Sarawak government had written a letter to the federal Ministry of Finance regarding the provision for the development of poor schools in Sarawak.

He then reiterated the Sarawak government’s offer of a RM1-billion loan, to be used for this purpose if the federal ministry has no allocation for it.

“Obviously, the allocation would be used to repair poor schools and provide them with the same facilities as those schools in the city, which includes water and electricity supply.”

Minister of Utilities Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Assistant Minister of Rural Electricity Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Assistant Minister of Water Supply Datuk Liwan Lagang and Ministry of Utilities permanent secretary Dato Alice Jawan were also present.