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Treated water for whole state in 10 years — Manyin BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sabah - New 2 Borneo

Treated water for whole state in 10 years — Manyin

Posted: 16 Dec 2013 11:21 AM PST

SERIAN: The whole of Sarawak, including the interior areas, is expected to enjoy treated water supply within the next 10 years.

Infrastructure Development and Communications Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin said this is possible once the necessary funds are made available to the state's Public Works Department (JKR) to carry out the necessary projects.

He pointed out the RM116.5 million Serian water treatment plant at Slabi, which was soft-opened yesterday, was one of the projects implemented by JKR to reduce the rural populace's dependence on gravity feed system for their water supply.

"This (the commissioning of the new water treatment plant in Serian) is in line with the desire of both Barisan Nasional governments at the state and federal levels to enable all Sarawakians to enjoy treated water supply from JKR by the year 2020 to 2025.

"As of today, there are still many Sarawakians who depend on gravity feed for water supply, which is not that safe anymore due to exposure to insecticide and weed killer. But water supply from JKR is safe and clean because it has been treated with chlorine," he said when officiating at the soft opening of the treatment plant.

The new treatment plant, completed on April 7 this year after a delay of several months and commissioned recently, has a capacity of 50 million litres daily (MLD) to complement the old plant which supplies only 25 MLD.

It was constructed using part of the RM205 million allocated to Serian by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak during his walkabout there in 2011. The remaining RM90 million was used to lay down pipes and install booster stations to enable the water to be supplied all the way to Tebedu.

When speaking to reporters later, Manyin said his ministry would continue to request for funds to complete pipe installation to the remaining 52 per cent of the project in Serian district clustered under the Mentung Merau/ Mongkos region.

"The water treatment plant in Slabi now supplies 75 MLD of water for Serian. Based on projection of population, this plant will still be able to produce enough clean water by the year 2025.

"At the moment, the coverage (by the Slabi water plant) is 48 per cent of areas in Serian district. We have another 52 per cent to cover, and we need another RM90 million for the laying of pipes until Mentung Merau/ Mongkos region of which the design and estimation have been done by JKR," he said.

"Since it is federal-funded, we will fight for the money and we hope in the next five years, we will be able to finish the project. If KL (Kuala Lumpur) gives us RM20 million to RM30 million a year, we probably finish it (faster) within the next three years".

With the new plant, he hoped there would be less complaints about low water pressure from residents and the business community in Serian.

"All these while, the business people and kampung folks have been complaining of water supply interruptions due to low water pressure.

"So now with this new plant, there will not be any problems with water pressure. The days of them complaining 'no water, but only air in the pipes' will be history," he said.

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‘Police never ordered Christian gathering organisers to remove ‘Allah’ banner’

Posted: 16 Dec 2013 11:21 AM PST

SIBU: Deputy State Police Commissioner Datuk Law Hong Soon said the police never ordered the banner with the word 'Allah' to be taken down at the Gempuru Besai Kristian Jaku Iban (GBKJI) Malaysia gathering at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on Friday.

Refusing to comment on the issue, he said police only advised the organiser to move the banner further from the original place.

"We never order them to take them down. We only advise the organiser to cooperate with us to place the banner further in, which they had done so, and we are very happy," he told reporters here yesterday.

He said this is a multiracial and multi religion society, and they did not want to incite or offend one another.

A news portal reported recently that the banner was ordered be removed during their annual three-day gathering at BCCK on Friday.

In the news report yesterday, GBKJI chairman pastor Greman said the police only asked them to move the banner further from the original place where several flag poles were located at the roadside leading to BCCK, where it was still visible.

He said they were holding an annual three-day gathering at BCCK attended by around 6,000 Christians of various denominations which began last Thursday.

He was quoted as saying that they had been holding this annual gathering for 16 years and never encountered any problem from the police or the authority.

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Shafie Ismail bids farewell as Sibu police chief

Posted: 16 Dec 2013 11:19 AM PST

by Jane Moh, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on December 17, 2013, Tuesday

SIBU: Former Sibu police chief ACP Shafie Ismail said he will have fond memories of the past six years and three months when he served in Sibu.

Speaking for the last time as Sibu police chief at their monthly parade at Police Headquarters here yesterday, he said he would leave Sibu to serve as commander at the Royal Malaysian Police College in Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor without any regrets.

"As I am about to leave, I am leaving with great satisfaction because I left something very meaningful for all of us and one of the many things is your friendship.

"Secondly, I believe I will leave memorable moments with my officers, especially the new ones," he pointed. He said he could never forget the friendliness that his comrades shared with him.

He thanked his fellow police officers and staffers for the support and assistance they had rendered to him.

"Without me, you will not be there, and without you, there is no police chief, so all of us complement one another, and thus, we need one another," he pointed out.

He said everyone had roles to play, and praised them for a job well done.He reminded them to serve the people well and establish closer rapport with them.

At the same time, he urged his officers to keep learning to improve themselves.

"You may not see it today, but one day those in the constable's position perhaps might be police chief or successful police officers," he pointed out.

He also asked for forgiveness from them.

"I regret my action to those who were offended by my unprofessionalism," he said.

Many shed tears as they bade him goodbye.

Meanwhile, he presented certificates of appreciation to 29 police officers and staffers during the parade. As a parting advice, he hoped that they would give the same cooperation and support they had given him to his successor.

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Carjacking in broad daylight

Posted: 16 Dec 2013 11:05 AM PST

by Peter Sibon & Anastasia Jenis, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on December 17, 2013, Tuesday

Assistant minister robbed of his four-wheel drive vehicle in front of morning crowd at coffee shop

KUCHING: Assistant Minister of Culture and Heritage Liwan Lagang was robbed of his four-wheel-drive vehicle, a Toyota Fortuner , at knife-point by two men at Kota Sentosa at about 6.10am yesterday.

Relating his ordeal to The Borneo Post at his residence here yesterday, he said the carjacking was carried out very professionally and it happened so fast he could not stop them.

"I was getting a newspaper at a pharmacy at Kota Sentosa and shortly after I left the shop someone poked a knife at my back and demanded for my keys. I was about to defend myself from him when his accomplice came from behind my vehicle and subdued me. I put up a struggle and at the same time shouted for help but they managed to get away with my Toyota Fortuner bearing registration number QAT6558," he said.

The Belaga assemblyman was upset that despite his shouts for help no one came to his aid although there some customers at a coffee shop nearby.

"I saw many people getting out from the coffee shop nearby but they didn't come to my help. I am very disappointed with them. But maybe they were scared because the robbers were armed," said Liwan.

He admitted that he never expected to be a victim of carjacking in broad daylight in a busy street.

"I had just sent my daughter to the airport and was heading home. I never expected this kind of thing to happen," he said.

Liwan described both robbers as very fit and one of them was wearing a mask.

In the scuffle with the two robbers, Liwan was slightly slashed on his right thigh and he was also injured on other parts in his body.

Liwan was also disappointed that the police took 45 minutes to arrive at the scene.

"After I called 994, I was asked to make a police report at Kota Samarahan Police station and yet the incident happened at Kota Sentosa Town, and there is a police station here. Why didn't they come fast?" he asked.

He recommended that the police should put up more mobile patrol units and patrol certain areas especially in town areas frequently.

"On top of that there seemed to be no CCTV nearby. The local council should install CCTV at strategic locations to prevent crimes," he suggested.

Meanwhile, when contacted Padawan police Chief Supt Pauzi Bujang confirmed the case and said the police was investigating the incident.

He also clarified that sometimes policemen could have other commitments and that was why they could be a bit late in responding to Liwan's distress call.

"It might be one of those days. But generally we are prompt," he said when responding to Liwan's query.

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Saved from the brink by cops and Bomba – more photos

Posted: 16 Dec 2013 11:00 AM PST

KUCHING: Swift action by the police and Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) thwarted an apparent suicide bid by a young man at the Civic Centre here yesterday evening.

According to Kuching police chief ACP Roslan Bek Ahmad, the building's security guard had tried to engage the 23-year-old man who was armed with a knife.

Bomba received a call around 3.30pm. Policemen also arrived at the scene, talking for about an hour with the young man who held on to the knife while seated on the ledge.

Several firemen and policemen grabbed his knife and pulled him away from the ledge during an unguarded moment.

Initial investigation showed the young man, who had two children and two wives, had a lot of family problems and had not returned home for three months.

Roslan said yesterday both his wives were told he was being detained by police, most likely for attempted suicide.

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Law assures public of police presence with or without Rela

Posted: 16 Dec 2013 10:04 AM PST

by Jane Moh, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on December 17, 2013, Tuesday

SIBU: Deputy State Police Commissioner Datuk Law Hong Soon assures the public of police presence even without assistance from Rela.

He gave the assurance when talking to reporters after the ceremony to hand over duty to the new Sibu police chief yesterday.

"It is a matter of extra or less men, that's all. There is nothing to worry about. Internally, maybe Rela have their own technical problem and maybe they will sort it out and come back and do the patrolling with us, because under National Key Result Areas (NKRA), they are duty bound," he pointed out.

Outgoing Sibu police chief ACP Shafie Ismail mentioned recently that Rela and General Operations Force (GOF) would no longer carry out joint patrols under the NKRA programme.

However, the police had yet to receive any official announcement on the matter.

Law also told reporters that he had yet to receive black and white from Rela but would check with them.

"NKRA programme is still going on by the way, but nevertheless, it is nothing to worry about, and we still have the Civil Defence Department working with us," he said, adding that Sibu was not the only town that was affected.

He also pointed out that currently the police force had their own volunteers made up of members of the public to assist them in crime prevention.

Just like Rela members, he said these volunteers had their fulltime jobs.

"Police volunteers are our men made up of members of the public. The response had been very good, we received more than 2,000 applications this year although we only had 900 vacancies.

"So, we are very impressed with the public cooperation to work with us," he said, adding that they might open another 500 vacancies to encourage more people to be police volunteers next
year.

He said the department would carry out normal interviews for the applicants, and the successful ones would be trained just like regular police recruits but in a shorter period.

"We pay them allowance of RM6 an hour, but only for a limited period in a month and there is a condition for it too," he said.

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