Julaihi: Regional water grids across Sarawak to be connected under comprehensive master plan
KUCHING (June 24): Sarawak has developed the comprehensive Water Supply Master Plan and Water Grid to transform its water supply sector and achieve full coverage by 2030, said Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi.
In his keynote address at the Singapore Business Forum @ Spotlight for Singapore International Water Week 2025 yesterday, the Minister for Utility and Telecommunication shared that under the masterplan, all water grids in southern, central, and northern regions will be upgraded, enhanced, and expanded.
He said these regional grids will eventually be connected to span across Sarawak.
'Currently Sarawak's overall water supply coverage is 85.4 per cent with rural coverage at about 70.5 per cent. The pipeline grid systems are served by separate supply schemes which are not integrated across the whole Sarawak.
'For communities in the remote interior areas that are inaccessible for supply from the water grid, clean water is supplied through stand-alone Sarawak Alternative Water Supply (Sawas),' he said.
Julaihi pointed out that a single entity for Sarawak water supply will be formed through the amalgamation of Kuching Water Board, Sibu Water Board, and Laku Management Sdn Bhd, as well as the Sarawak Rural Water Supply Department at a later stage.
He shared that Sarawak is also adopting digitalisation to drive innovative automation.
Key initiatives include a centralised supervisory control and data acquisition (Scada) command centre, smart meters, smart internet-of things (IOT) applications such as smart leakages detection, and other cutting-edge technologies that support improved service delivery and the reduction of non-revenue water losses, he said.
Julaihi was invited by the Singapore Water Association (SWA) to deliver the keynote 'Regional Partnerships – Tapping Southeast Asia's Water Market Regional Synergy in Tackling Shared Water Challenges'.
The keynote noted Sarawak will continue to strengthen its collaborations with its Southeast Asian neighbours and international partners as it pursues the transformation of the water sector.
In conjunction with the visit, the Sarawak delegation also visited the Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute (NEWRI) and Separation Technologies Applied Research and Translation Centre (START).
The delegation explored advanced analytical equipment and filtration technologies and the feasibility of adopting these for Sarawak's water and utility sector.
The delegation also visited the Public Utilities Board (PUB) Command Centre to witness the uses of machine learning for PUB's data-based predictive maintenance and asset management optimisation to reduce system downtime and provide the most efficient water service delivery and maintenance.
'This engagement underscores Sarawak's commitment to innovation and collaborations with our Southeast Asian neighbours in advancing sustainable water and utility solutions,' added Julaihi. julaihi narawi lead Sarawak water grids Singapore Water Association
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