(Sarawak, Saturday): The Sarawak State Assemblyman for Kidurong Chiew Chin Sing said that the central sewerage system in the Sg. Plan Terrace and Shop Housing area would have to operate more efficiently to win the confidence of the people there and the Sarawak people in general, as bad odor coming from the oxidation ponds around Bintulu  is also a regular complain by the people here.

Bintulu is the only town in Sarawak using the central sewerage system and with the passage of the Sewerage Systems and Services Bill in November last year at the State Legislative council, more central sewerage systems are expected to be introduced to all the major towns in the state.

Chiew pointed out that this is not the first time that the people of Sg. Plan Terrace and shops housing  area are complaining about their sewerage blockage problem.

‘For the past few years, the people there had experienced blockage due to either clogging of the pipe because of sand sedimentation , the central pump got jammed or electrical problems resulting in the pump not working and others.’ Chiew said

‘All these had greatly inconvenienced the people staying in the area, as the blockage could be for days sometimes and the smell would be so bad that one would not have any appetite for food with the wastes overflowing from the manhole just outside the house or shop’ added Chiew.

The most recent blockage is at the shop house area again and filthy waste water could be seen overflowing from the manhole onto the road surface day and night for the last few days.

‘Each time after the blockage  happened, the people would called me up and I would in turn inform the authority concerned who would fix the problems up each time. But this has not solving the problem, as the blockage keeps coming back.’ Chiew said.

‘I urge the authority to look seriously into the problem, whether it be technical or financial,  and solve the problem once and for all for the people at the Sg. Plan area so that they do not have to face the smelly problem year in and year out.’ Chiew stressed.

Chiew also appealed to the authority to set up a management unit at the Sg. Plan area so that they could provide good and fast service whenever problems and needs  arise, as sometimes we need to live and be among the people more often to understand more fully of  their problems.

(21/10/2006)