Sarawak Metro must take action against KUTS contractors over pipe damage, says Dapsy man
KUCHING (July 25): The Kuching Urban Transformation System's (KUTS) project undertaker, Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd must investigate, penalise and blacklist irresponsible contractors who caused the recent pipeline damage, said Wong King Yii.
The Democratic Action Party Socialist Youth (Dapsy) Sarawak treasurer also called upon the Kuching Water Board to take prompt action to ensure residents in affected areas have access to clean water.
'I am dismayed by the repeated pipeline damage caused by contractors working under the KUTS project.
'These incidents have disrupted water supply to thousands of residents in Tabuan Jaya, Samarahan and nearby areas as a result of negligence and poor supervision,' he said in a statement today.
KWB said a 12-inch asbestos cement water main near Jalan Wan Alwi was damaged on July 22 while a 200mm ductile iron main at Desa Ilmu was also damaged during construction on July 18.
Wong said KWB must strive to resolve the long-standing murky water issues in other parts of Kuching, especially in Green Road and Jalan Song.
According to him, the board has repeatedly promised to fix the murky water problem in Green Road but residents there continue to face murky, discoloured water.
In Jalan Song, he said the situation is equally bad with residents recently experiencing either murky water or no water supply at all.
'Some were forced to shower at hotels just to get through the day. This is not just an inconvenience – it's a failure in basic service delivery.
'What makes matters worse is that the transboundary haze is already happening. With temperatures rising and air quality declining, access to clean and uninterrupted water supply is more critical than ever.
'The last thing people need in this weather is to deal with brown water or dry taps,' he lamented.
Wong said development means nothing if basic utilities like clean water cannot be guaranteed.
Given this, he said those responsible, be it contractor negligence or agency inaction, must be held accountable.
'Sarawakians deserve reliable infrastructure, not recurring disruptions and vague assurances,' he added.
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Borneo Post
3 days ago
- Borneo Post
Sarawak Metro must take action against KUTS contractors over pipe damage, says Dapsy man
A photo taken on Wednesday shows the murky water. KUCHING (July 25): The Kuching Urban Transformation System's (KUTS) project undertaker, Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd must investigate, penalise and blacklist irresponsible contractors who caused the recent pipeline damage, said Wong King Yii. The Democratic Action Party Socialist Youth (Dapsy) Sarawak treasurer also called upon the Kuching Water Board to take prompt action to ensure residents in affected areas have access to clean water. 'I am dismayed by the repeated pipeline damage caused by contractors working under the KUTS project. 'These incidents have disrupted water supply to thousands of residents in Tabuan Jaya, Samarahan and nearby areas as a result of negligence and poor supervision,' he said in a statement today. KWB said a 12-inch asbestos cement water main near Jalan Wan Alwi was damaged on July 22 while a 200mm ductile iron main at Desa Ilmu was also damaged during construction on July 18. Wong said KWB must strive to resolve the long-standing murky water issues in other parts of Kuching, especially in Green Road and Jalan Song. According to him, the board has repeatedly promised to fix the murky water problem in Green Road but residents there continue to face murky, discoloured water. In Jalan Song, he said the situation is equally bad with residents recently experiencing either murky water or no water supply at all. 'Some were forced to shower at hotels just to get through the day. This is not just an inconvenience – it's a failure in basic service delivery. 'What makes matters worse is that the transboundary haze is already happening. With temperatures rising and air quality declining, access to clean and uninterrupted water supply is more critical than ever. 'The last thing people need in this weather is to deal with brown water or dry taps,' he lamented. Wong said development means nothing if basic utilities like clean water cannot be guaranteed. Given this, he said those responsible, be it contractor negligence or agency inaction, must be held accountable. 'Sarawakians deserve reliable infrastructure, not recurring disruptions and vague assurances,' he added.
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3 days ago
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S'wak Metro taking steps to avoid further utility damage during KUTS construction
KUCHING: Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd is reviewing and strengthening operational protocols to prevent a recurrence of utility damage in the construction of the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) project. The company said the review included improving coordination between contractors and enhancing on-site supervision. "Sarawak Metro also continues to engage with the relevant utility providers as well as their respective contractors, especially before any excavation activities are done near underground pipes and cables," it said in a statement on Friday (July 25). This comes after KUTS construction activity accidentally damaged underground pipelines in two incidents this week, disrupting water supply along sections of Jalan Datuk Mohammad Musa in Kota Samarahan and Jalan Wan Alwi in Kuching. On Thursday (July 24), the Kuching Water Board (KWB) urged the KUTS project proponent and its contractors to take full responsibility for the disruptions and implement stricter safety and damage prevention measures during underground works. "KWB has repeatedly cautioned KUTS contractors to exercise extreme care when carrying out excavation or construction near existing water infrastructure. "Despite these warnings, the recurrence of such incidents reflects a serious lack of vigilance, coordination and on-site supervision," it said. Sarawak Metro acknowledged the concerns raised by KWB and reiterated its commitment to minimising disruptions to utility services, particularly as the KUTS project entered its peak construction phase. It also apologised to the affected communities, adding that it worked closely with KWB to carry out immediate repairs and restore services as quickly as possible. "Sarawak Metro greatly appreciates the close cooperation given by all the relevant government agencies and utility providers in ensuring the KUTS project is implemented as smoothly as possible. "We are also grateful for the support and understanding from the public in our efforts to develop the future green public transport system for Greater Kuching," it said.
Borneo Post
17-07-2025
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Hand and Sign Day 2025 to boost sign language awareness among S'wakians, says Fatimah
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