At least 40 cases of infectious diarrhoea cases were reported over the past month, the state local government ministry reported on Tuesday.

State local government minister Dr Sim Kui Hian said in a statement that one death had been reported, with preliminary investigations suggesting that these diarrhoea cases were directly caused by a contaminated water source.

DAP said it received information that 12 people were hospitalised, with 28 receiving outpatient treatment. The outbreak was first reported on March 3, the party said.

The opposition party said from the figures provided to them, 8,291 people were exposed to the contaminated water source. The population of Pusa is 14,921, according to the 2010 census.

“In this day and age, for anyone to die of infectious diarrhoea, which is a highly treatable condition, is a huge issue,” said Dr Kelvin Yii, who is special assistant to Sarawak DAP leader Chong Chieng Jen.

“But nothing was announced by the health ministry or state government to alert the public so that precautions could be taken to avert this crisis when the case was first reported,” Yii told a press conference on Wednesday.

“Is this a cover-up at the expense of the safety of the people and also an attempt to downplay the seriousness of the issue to hide the negligence of not just his ministry, but also the state water board in maintaining the quality of drinking water?

“Is it also the failure of the rural and development ministry to address the need for replacement of old and faulty pipes?”

Yii said the health ministry and state government had not taken efforts to inform the public. This would have led the people to take precautions not to drink from the contaminated water source.

In view of the possible common water source contamination, the state health department has advised the people in Pusa district to use only boiled water for everyday use such as food preparation, handwashing after using the toilet, bathing and washing kitchen and eating utensils.