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KUCHING, Feb 5: The full extent of the damage to electrical facilities caused by the recent floods in Sarawak will be thoroughly assessed once the situation stabilises, according to Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi, the Minister of Utility and Telecommunication.
In an interview with TVS, Julaihi explained that his ministry is currently unable to determine the total damage, as several areas are still affected by floods. The assessment will only take place after all residents in temporary evacuation centres (PPS) have safely returned to their homes.
“We cannot estimate the full damage yet because some areas are still experiencing flooding. Once the situation is completely under control and all evacuees are back home, we will conduct a proper evaluation,” said Julaihi.
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He further stressed that the priority now is to ensure the well-being of those relocated to PPS and to ensure the safety of the public. He made these remarks during a visit to the Water Supply Project: Pipeline Replacement at Kampung Rampangi.
The damage assessment process is expected to take time, given the vast scale of the floods. In particular, Julaihi highlighted the severe impact in Bintulu, where rainfall levels reached an unprecedented 900 millimetres in just one day, far exceeding the area’s usual annual rainfall of 100 millimetres. This caused massive flooding and affected several key facilities, including water treatment plants and substations.
Julaihi reassured the public that utility agencies under his ministry, including Sarawak Energy and its subsidiary Sesco, are actively monitoring the situation and working on restoring services. The priority remains on ensuring public safety and restoring utility services as quickly as possible.