Minister of Public Utilities Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said the study would be undertaken by his ministry and the State Planning Authority (SPA).

“We want to ensure that there will be adequate (water) supply because Tanjung Manis is going to be the biggest halal-hub not only in the country but also in Southeast Asia,” he said at the board’s annual gathering here on Tuesday.

Awang Tengah, who is also Second Minister of Resource Planning and Management, said Sibu had no problem with fresh water supply as it got it source from the longest river in the country, the Rajang River.

He was confident this would be materialised with the commissioning of Salim Treatment Plant (Phase 2) and the upgrading of Bukit Lima Treatment Plant.

The two plants enabled SWB to provide water to the whole of Sibu to the tune of 195 million litres per day (MLD) against the demand of 119 MLD.

“This will ensure sufficient ‘spare’ capacity to last until 2020 based on normal (population) growth.

“It will give SWB ample time to plan for new expansion should there be a sudden surge in demand,” he said.

He added that there were quite a number of submissions and approvals given to the private sector for the opening of businesses in Tanjung Manis and the surrounding areas in Sibu with the completion of Tanjung Manis-Sibu road.

“Besides the halal-hub, Tanjung Manis will also see the expansion of the shipbuilding industry which means that more water will be required.”

Earlier, SWB general manager Daniel Wong Park Ing said the water tariff was still too cheap and structured in such a way that the domestic consumers were subsidised by the commercial and industrial users.

“For many years, SWB has been expanding into the rural areas but without much increase the number commercial or industrial users to subsidise them.

“It is causing severe financial strain on us,” he said.

Assistant Minister of Public Utilities Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi, Public Utilities Ministry’s permanent secretary Ubaidillah Abdul Latip, a political secretary to the Chief Minister Abu Seman Jahwie, Sibu Municipal Council chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King , his deputy Daniel Ngieng, Nangka assemblyman Dr Annuar Rapa’ee, Sibu Resident Sim Kok Kee, Sibu Rural District Council deputy chairman Clarence Ting and Kuching Port Authority chairman Datuk Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah were among those who attended the dinner.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/01/19/can-swb-supply-water-to-tg-manis/#ixzz1lJ6McHfp