State utility and communications minister Julaihi Narawi said Putrajaya knew that Sarawak was capable of carrying out the projects on its own, The Borneo Post reported.

“Why not give Sarawak the power to implement and expedite these projects? Approving the budget alone is not good enough if there is no authority.

“Give us full authority to implement such projects. Let our water agencies, such as the rural water supply department, handle them,” he was quoted as saying.

In July, the 2024 auditor-general’s report revealed that 36 water projects in the rural parts of Sabah and Sarawak had been delayed for up to seven years despite receiving approval between 2016 and 2018.

It said 12 of these projects were in Sarawak and worth a total of RM888.32 million. They were aimed at supplying clean water to those residing in rural areas but had been delayed by between five and seven years.

Julaihi also hoped that Putrajaya would set aside more funds to improve Sarawak’s water and electricity infrastructure under the 2025 budget, which would be unveiled tomorrow.

He said the supply of clean running water in rural areas in Sarawak stood at 70%, adding that there was a need for more water treatment plants to be built across the state and for the pipeline system to be expanded.