KUCHING: Shopkeepers along Lorong 1, Kota Padawan, Mile 10 have had enough. For over two years, business owners occupying the block from No 40 to 51 have battled low water pressure, forcing them to adapt to a daily struggle that has disrupted their work and home lives.
Despite numerous complaints lodged through various channels, the problem remains unresolved, prompting several shop owners to call Utusan Sarawak to share their frustration.
They were joined by community leaders Penghulu Lim Eng Huat, Kapitan Lim Eng Kok, MPP councillor Gerald Goh, and councillor Lim Lian Kee during the visit.
Mr Chong, who runs a spare parts shop, said the trouble began two years ago when the water flow from their taps turned into a slow drip.
“At first, we thought it was a temporary issue, but it has dragged on until now,” he said, adding that all nearby shops were facing the same ordeal.
Chong said he was forced to run a hose from the ground floor to his upper-floor residence to ensure his elderly mother could bathe.
“It runs almost 24 hours a week just so she can have water upstairs. It’s exhausting and unfair,” he said angrily.
For coffee shop owner Lee Muk Ching, the water crisis has turned his business upside down. He said he now has to fetch water daily and store it in pails for cooking and cleaning, a practice that has driven away some customers.
“Some people think it’s unhygienic because they see us cooking with pail water. And the toilets? I can only flush once in the morning. Then what? Do I collect water to cook or flush? Each pail is precious,” he lamented.
“You can see for yourself, my customers are leaving one by one. Who wants to eat here without water?”
Lee said his family, who lives above the shop, is planning to move out.
“We can’t cook, bathe, or even wash our hands properly. It’s like we’re living in the past,” he said.
Hardware shop owner Jong said he was luckier as his trade required less water, but he too has moved out due to the inconvenience.
“Maybe Sarawak Water Sdn Bhd doesn’t understand our suffering. We pay our bills, yet nothing changes,” he said.
Furniture seller Mdm Chong echoed the frustration, saying the situation had become unbearable.
“During peak hours, there’s no water at all. Having no water is worse than having no electricity,” she said.
Community leaders Penghulu Lim and Kapitan Lim said they had repeatedly raised the issue with the former Kuching Water Board but were disappointed by the lack of progress.
“I try to avoid walking past this block nowadays,” said Penghulu Lim half-jokingly.
“The shopkeepers will point at me and shout, ‘No water!’ I’m frustrated and embarrassed too.”
Both community leaders urged Sarawak Water Sdn Bhd to introduce temporary relief measures, such as connecting a pipe from the next block to the affected one.
“Yes, they said there are upcoming projects to fix this issue but projects can take years,” said Kapitan Lim.
“These shopkeepers have been suffering for two already. Please help them first.”
He added that outdated water pipes might be the root cause.
“I’m no expert, but the infrastructure is probably too old to meet current demand. Imagine having no water for just one day, it’s unbearable. These people have endured it for years.”
When contacted, Sarawak Water Sdn Bhd declined to comment but confirmed they are looking into the issue.
Meanwhile, Batu Kitang assemblyman Dato Ir Lo Khere Chiang when contacted said he supports efforts to resolve the matter swiftly, stressing that basic utilities should never be taken for granted.
By Connie Chieng
KUCHING: Shopkeepers along Lorong 1, Kota Padawan, Mile 10 have had enough. For over two years, business owners occupying the block from No 40 to 51 have battled low water pressure, forcing them to adapt to a daily struggle that has disrupted their work and home lives.
Despite numerous complaints lodged through various channels, the problem remains unresolved, prompting several shop owners to call Utusan Sarawak to share their frustration.
They were joined by community leaders Penghulu Lim Eng Huat, Kapitan Lim Eng Kok, MPP councillor Gerald Goh, and councillor Lim Lian Kee during the visit.
Mr Chong, who runs a spare parts shop, said the trouble began two years ago when the water flow from their taps turned into a slow drip.
“At first, we thought it was a temporary issue, but it has dragged on until now,” he said, adding that all nearby shops were facing the same ordeal.
Chong said he was forced to run a hose from the ground floor to his upper-floor residence to ensure his elderly mother could bathe.
“It runs almost 24 hours a week just so she can have water upstairs. It’s exhausting and unfair,” he said angrily.
For coffee shop owner Lee Muk Ching, the water crisis has turned his business upside down. He said he now has to fetch water daily and store it in pails for cooking and cleaning, a practice that has driven away some customers.
“Some people think it’s unhygienic because they see us cooking with pail water. And the toilets? I can only flush once in the morning. Then what? Do I collect water to cook or flush? Each pail is precious,” he lamented.
“You can see for yourself, my customers are leaving one by one. Who wants to eat here without water?”
Lee said his family, who lives above the shop, is planning to move out.
“We can’t cook, bathe, or even wash our hands properly. It’s like we’re living in the past,” he said.
Hardware shop owner Jong said he was luckier as his trade required less water, but he too has moved out due to the inconvenience.
“Maybe Sarawak Water Sdn Bhd doesn’t understand our suffering. We pay our bills, yet nothing changes,” he said.
Furniture seller Mdm Chong echoed the frustration, saying the situation had become unbearable.
“During peak hours, there’s no water at all. Having no water is worse than having no electricity,” she said.
Community leaders Penghulu Lim and Kapitan Lim said they had repeatedly raised the issue with the former Kuching Water Board but were disappointed by the lack of progress.
“I try to avoid walking past this block nowadays,” said Penghulu Lim half-jokingly.
“The shopkeepers will point at me and shout, ‘No water!’ I’m frustrated and embarrassed too.”
Both community leaders urged Sarawak Water Sdn Bhd to introduce temporary relief measures, such as connecting a pipe from the next block to the affected one.
“Yes, they said there are upcoming projects to fix this issue but projects can take years,” said Kapitan Lim.
“These shopkeepers have been suffering for two already. Please help them first.”
He added that outdated water pipes might be the root cause.
“I’m no expert, but the infrastructure is probably too old to meet current demand. Imagine having no water for just one day, it’s unbearable. These people have endured it for years.”
When contacted, Sarawak Water Sdn Bhd declined to comment but confirmed they are looking into the issue.
Meanwhile, Batu Kitang assemblyman Dato Ir Lo Khere Chiang when contacted said he supports efforts to resolve the matter swiftly, stressing that basic utilities should never be taken for granted.
By Connie Chieng