SARAWAK is likely to provide clean water to its neighbours Sabah and the Indonesian province of Kalimantan, should there be a surplus in supply in the future, Chief Minister Abang Johari Tun Openg said today.

Abang Johari said this can be materialised through an efficient water management that can be achieved when the Sarawak Water Supply Grid Programme is completed in 2025.

He said that through the programme, the state water supply management will be placed under a sole operator. 

Currently, Sarawak’s water supply is managed by three entities, namely the Kuching Water Board, the Sibu Water Board, and the Northern Region Water Board (Laku), he added.

The chief minister said by having a single water regulatory body, Sarawak will be equipped with a data centre for efficient management, which could lead to excess water supply in the state.

“If we can manage it well, we will have a surplus water supply that we can share with others,” he said.
 
Abang Johari said the provision of electricity and water supply infrastructure in Sarawak is a prerequisite to achieving the status of a high-income and developed state by 2030.

He added that the Sarawak government has always emphasised the importance of water and electricity infrastructure investments to increase the state’s gross domestic product from RM130 billion in 2019 to RM280 billion in 2030. – Bernama, August 18, 2021.