Mr. Wong Tiong Kai, area manager of the management for Bintulu also extended his utmost appreciation to all who had helped the company during the period especially Dato' Seri Tiong King Sing, member of parliament for Bintulu, Michael Sim Khian Hui, minister for State Housing cum assemblymen for N52 Kemena Datuk Celestine Ujang, Hj. Talip bin Zulpilip, State Assemblymen for N54 Jepak,  who had kindly rendered their assistance and support in many ways.

Beside, Wong also thanked the Asean Bintulu Fertiliser (ABF) Sdn Bhd, Malaysia LNG (MLNG) Sdn. Bhd, who supplied the extra pumps and financed the construction of the temporary pipeline, as well as Tang Ming Seng Construction company and KACC which constructed the  pipleline and installed the pumps, and helping in the construcion of the temporary weir across the river respectively.

However, Wong said the management wished to clarify a few misunderstanding of some of the consumers.

Firstly, he explained it was not the management did not have enough pumps because the management have four pumps that could deliver 45 million litres per day (MLD) each at tip-top working conditions. 

During normal operations, he said two pumps would be sufficient to replenish the reservoir, provided that water of river level was enough.  The four pumps in fact provide more than 100 percent extra capacity for the normal operations.

Nevertheless, extra pumps supplied by ABF and MLNG were to help to pump more water to the reservoir when the river level was very high, although the capacity of each pump was very small which was less than 10 percent of  the reservoir's pumps.

Secondly, he explained to the members of public that the raw water shortage was due to the long dry spell causing Sg. Sibiew ubable to supply the quantity of water that required to replenish the reservoir. 

He gave an example that if only one pump could be operated and even so it had to be switched off intermittently to allow the water level to build up before it could be swithched on again.

Furthermore, he said due to the unusual hot weather, the water in the reservoir evaporated at a much higher rate which caused the water level to drop drastically.

Thirdly, Wong said as a water supply company depending solely on water sales for survival, LAKU would not restrict water supply unless there was no other alternative. 

The water restriction was imposed to ensure that there was sufficient water for everyone, he stressed and adding that the management could not lift the restriction even after the heavy rain on July 25, last month was because even though the SIKA reservoir level had improved, it had not reached the safe level to justify the lifting of resctriction just in case the dry spell prolongs, which water restricion might  have to be re-imposed.

Therefore, he said it was never the intention of the company to bring unnecessary incovenience and hardship to its valued caonsumers and at the same time reducing the company's income.

Again, Wong Tiong Kai on behalf of the management wished to apologise for the inconvenience caused over the past 12 days...END.