KUCHING – Twelve longhouses in the interior of Sarikei have yet to receive full access to treated water, with residents continuing to depend on river water and rainwater collection for their daily needs, according to Repok assemblyman Dato Sri Huang Tiong Sii.
The affected areas include Sebangkoi/Bukit Kayu Malam and Sungai Mawang/Sungai Rusa. Huang has called on the Sarawak Government to clarify the progress of water supply projects intended to improve access to treated water for communities in these locations.
He raised the issue while debating the Supply (2027) Bill, 2026, during the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly sitting on Wednesday.
He said the continued reliance on untreated water sources raised concerns about water quality and potential health risks, particularly for children and older residents.
Huang said the authorities should provide an update on the current status of the projects to establish how far efforts to extend treated water infrastructure to the affected longhouses had progressed. However, no specific implementation timeline or revised completion date was provided in the information presented.
Access to a reliable supply of treated water is an important component of rural development, particularly for communities located far from major towns.
The availability of safe water can reduce dependence on unverified sources and support household hygiene, while project updates can help residents understand when improvements may be delivered.
Beyond water supply, Huang highlighted persistent telecommunications challenges in several interior areas of Sarikei.
He said some longhouses and villages located away from the town centre continued to experience difficulties obtaining stable mobile network coverage and internet connectivity.
He welcomed the Sarawak Premier’s statement during the presentation of the Sarawak Budget 2027 on narrowing the rural development gap and improving connections between communities and market opportunities.
Better digital access could help rural residents communicate more reliably and access information and services, although the specific measures and implementation schedules for the areas raised were not detailed.
Huang also called for the reconstruction of Sungai Lepong Bridge, which was built in 1990 and now requires upgrading to meet current transportation needs.
The bridge measures 28 metres in length and 4.2 metres in width and serves as an important connection for 16 longhouses and a primary school.
He said the existing structure no longer adequately met the needs of its users and urged the government to take action to improve safety and reliability.
The bridge supports daily travel as well as the movement of goods and the delivery of services to communities that depend on the crossing.
The proposed reconstruction would address concerns about the suitability of the ageing infrastructure for present-day requirements. Further details on the project’s funding, technical assessment, approval status and construction schedule were not provided during the debate.
Huang also sought an update on plans to upgrade Sarikei’s commercial jetty, which he described as being in poor condition and limited in capacity.
He said improvements were needed to strengthen safety and operational efficiency for river transport and commercial activities in the area.
According to the project schedule cited by Huang, the relevant minister had previously informed the assembly that the jetty project was at the design stage and was expected to proceed to tender in the second quarter of 2026.
Construction was scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2026, with an estimated implementation period of 24 months.
The jetty was projected to begin operations in the fourth quarter of 2028 under the timeline previously outlined.
However, Huang requested updated information to clarify whether the project had progressed according to schedule.
He called on the government to confirm the official construction start date, the estimated overall cost and the anticipated completion date.
The requested details would provide a clearer picture of the project’s implementation and help establish its expected timeline for delivery.
The issues raised during the debate covered several essential services affecting communities in the Sarikei interior, including treated water, digital connectivity, road access and river transport infrastructure.
Huang urged the government to provide clearer updates on the outstanding projects and address the needs of residents who depend on these facilities for their daily activities and livelihoods. â Sarawak Daily
