KOTA BARU – Maintenance of the public sewerage system in Kelantan has now been handed over to the federal government via Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd (IWK) which will start operating on Jan 1.
Environment and Water Minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the Kelantan government consented through Majaari Services Sdn Bhd (Maajari) to hand over the sewerage system to IWK to ensure services are more orderly and efficient.
“The handover of the public sewerage system in Kelantan also aims to standardise the operation of sewerage services throughout the country.
“In addition, it also ensures that treated wastewater conforms to high standards, especially in efforts to conserve water resources and the environment,” he said at a press conference after witnessing the handing over of the contract between the two companies signed by Majaari executive director Datuk Dr Wan Zawawi Wan Ismail and IWK chief executive officer Narendram Maniam, here, today.
Also present were Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob and Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah.
Tuan Ibrahim said through the handover, 33 public sewage treatment plants and 13 pump stations will be maintained by IWK besides providing sewage cleaning services to about 81,275 individual septic tanks as well as 259,343 traditional tanks throughout Kelantan.
“The handover will also open the door to more significant involvement by the federal government to modernise the state’s sewerage system, among which will see the development of a sewage treatment plant based in Tunjong, near here worth more than half a billion under the 12th Malaysia Plan.
“Funds will also be channelled for repair works on dilapidated sewage plants and pipeline networks to ensure that the people of Kelantan continue to enjoy quality services,” he added.
Meanwhile, Yakob said the move to hand over the sewerage system to the federal government could open up new opportunities for local contractors to work with IWK in future projects.
Majaari was established in December 2007 and is wholly owned by Kelantan Utilities Mubaarakan Holdings Sdn Bhd (KUM) which is 100% owned by the Kelantan Menteri Besar Incorporated and the state government has appointed Majaari to take over the management of sewerage system services in Kelantan from local authorities.
Earlier, at the same event, a memorandum of understanding was also signed between IWK and KUM for collaborative planning, which includes providing technical services, conducting corporate social responsibility activities in Kelantan and implementing integrated billing with Air Kelantan Sdn Bhd. – Bernama, December 19, 2020
