BINTULU — A total of 20 waterjet machines were officially handed over to the Village Development and Safety Committees (JKKK) in the Jepak area and surrounding villages in Bintulu during a simple ceremony held at the Bintulu District Office on Thursday.
The ceremony was officiated by Jepak State Assemblyman (ADUN) Iskandar Turkee and witnessed by Bintulu District Officer Awang Mohammed Nizam Awang Ali Bohan and Awang Merais Awang Ismail.
In his speech, Iskandar said the initiative aims to improve both the cleanliness of village environments and preparedness in dealing with emergency situations, particularly fire incidents. “With this equipment, I hope community leaders will utilise it effectively for the benefit of residents,” he said.
He emphasised that the waterjet machines serve multiple purposes — from cleaning drains and public spaces to assisting in extinguishing small fires before emergency services arrive. The move aligns with Sarawak’s broader goals of improving rural safety infrastructure and elevating the overall quality of life in village communities.
Iskandar also highlighted the vital role of JKKK in ensuring proper management of government-contributed assets. He encouraged each village to implement a periodic maintenance system to keep the equipment in top condition and always ready for use.
“This is not just about distributing machines. It’s about building a system of accountability and readiness at the grassroots level,” he added.
The distribution reflects the government’s commitment to empowering local communities with the tools needed for safety, hygiene, and emergency response, reinforcing the importance of community-led development in Sarawak’s rural transformation agenda.
