MIRI – There are still many populated settlements in modern Sarawak where people are so left out of developments that they have not had treated pipe water for decades.
Sarawak PKR discovered sad scenes in the Sarikei district of central Sarawak, where hundreds of people living in longhouses have to source water from dirty ponds, muddy streams and polluted rivers during dry weather when rainfall is too low or completely absent.
Sarikei PKR chief Yee Chin Kui today told reporters that party members found at least 11 populated settlements so far where people are living in such a desperate situation on a daily basis.
“We in Sarikei PKR office recently received complaints from villagers that they had no clean water to use and consume as the weather had turned very dry and there was no rain for quite some time.
“Our PKR teams went to check the ground situation. We have found at least 11 longhouses so far where the villagers had no clean water left.
“These villagers had not been accorded any pipe-treated water for decades,” he said.
“They depend on rainwater as the only source of clean water for cooking and drinking.
“Now, in dry weather, they have to source water from dirty ponds and muddy streams as well as polluted rivers contaminated by pesticides from agricultural estates.”
Yee said the state government must look into the plight of these folk who are left out of having even basic facilities.
The 11 longhouses whose communities are affected and that PKR teams have visited so far are Rumah Admana, Rumah Jengayang, Rumah Thomas, Rumah Luing, Rumah Munan, Rumah Anju, Rumah Fam, Rumah Papit, Rumah Emperie, Rumah Chuat and Rumah Patrick.
“These longhouse folk are now buying bottled water for drinking and cooking daily, as the polluted sources of water are also getting too muddy for consumption.
“These folk are already very poor people, living from farming and fishing.
“Serving politicians from the state government must do something urgent to help these desperate folk,” said Yee.
Despite all the repeated promises by the ruling politicians election after election, so many Sarawakians are still overlooked from enjoying basic amenities, he lamented.
The PKR teams will continue to look out for such needy folks to highlight their plight, he added. – The Vibes, September 7, 2022
