MIRI: Water management boards in the state need to embrace advanced technology to meet the increasing demand for water, said Public Utilities Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan.

He said latest information technology (IT) for the utility sector such as the Geographical Information System (GIS) was vital to enhance productivity and quality, but so was greater public awareness on the importance of conserving water.

This is to prevent water crisis and rise in water tariff, as had happened in countries like Australia.

“Unlike in Australia where there is water-rationing and the people use water sparingly, here the people use treated water like nobody business to water their gardens and wash their cars everyday,” he said at the annual dinner of the Northern Sarawak Water Board (LAKU) here on Thursday night.

He saw the Selangor government’s provision of free 20 cubic metres of water to the ‘rakyat’ as a political ploy to win the people’s heart that could lead to possible water shortage by 2014.

He said the reliability and availability of adequate raw water sources was of strategic importance so the water board authorities should update the database on water resources, and protect the existing sources as best as possible.

Awang Tengah pointed out the need to provide safe, reliable, affordable and adequate uninterrupted water supply.

“Complaints and reports must be attended to promptly and professionally and LAKU should continue to invest in human resource development,” he said.

LAKU needed to keep abreast with modern technology in water supply in order to provide water that meet national and international water quality standards.

Awang Tengah was happy LAKU had been able to discharge its duties effectively in its 16 years of existence.

At the function he presented donations totalling RM9,100 from LAKU and the public to seven organisations: Autistic Association Miri, MRC Dialysis Centre and Sunflower Centre, Miri Methodist Children Home, Sarawak Society for the Blind, Human Life Service and Kelab Sosial dan Kebajikan Harmoni Miri (KSKHM).

Among those present were chairman of LAKU Management Sdn Bhd, Datuk Hubert Thian; Miri Resident Antonio Kahti Galis; Miri Mayor Lawrence Lai; CEO of LAKU management, Wong Tiong Kai and board members.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/12/17/minister-embrace-it-to-meet-water-demand/#ixzz1j7WBTW8L