KUCHING (April 14): The transfer of 80 rural water supply projects in Sarawak to the state government has been described as a “game changer” that will accelerate implementation and resolve long-standing constraints affecting delivery.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the decision reflects the federal government’s strong commitment to work closely with Sarawak to ensure clean water supply reaches rural communities without further delay.

Ahmad Zahid, who is Rural and Regional Development Minister, said the 80 projects under the Rural Water Supply Project Sarawak programme are valued at RM3.47 billion.

“This is a game changer in terms of execution and coordination. It is not about shifting responsibility, but about empowering the right party to deliver faster results for the people,” he told a press conference here.

Ahmad Zahid said the move to transfer the implementation of the projects to the state government follows a federal Cabinet decision on March 17.

For 2026, an allocation of RM141.87 million has been provided under Rolling Plan 1 of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP).

Ahmad Zahid said the focus is on finding solutions rather than pointing fingers over delays and technical obstacles that had hampered the progress of several projects.

Of the 80 projects, he said 50 are currently under implementation, nine have been completed, while 20 will be implemented.

To address regulatory and procedural bottlenecks, discussions were held with the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economy, and relevant technical agencies to streamline requirements without breaching existing laws and financial regulations, he said.

“We are open-minded and guided by recommendations from the Sarawak Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication to find short-term solutions while ensuring compliance with all legal provisions. What matters most is that the people benefit from a reliable water supply,” he said.

He also commended the Sarawak government’s own water supply initiatives, noting that the state has achieved about 93 per cent implementation under its broader infrastructure development plans towards 2030.

On rising costs, Ahmad Zahid acknowledged that cost escalation remains the biggest challenge, adding that the matter would be reviewed by the National Economic Action Council before any further announcements or adjustments are made.

He added the initiative shows the federal government’s continued commitment to advancing rural development in Sarawak and improving quality of life for communities through stronger and more sustainable basic infrastructure.

Among those present at the press conference were Minister of Utility and Telecommunication Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi, Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Rubiah Wang, Deputy Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Datuk Martin Ben, and Sate Federal Secretary Datuk Ahmad Nadzri Mohd Hassan.