Kajang by-election: Residents hope elected rep will work to resolve water issue

The Star, Thursday March 20, 2014 

by christina tan

WATER rationing in many parts of the state has sparked worry among residents in Kajang, with some of them taking precautions for fear of a sudden water cut.

 

They hope that their new elected representative will pay more attention to resolving the problem of water cuts.

Housewife Shirley Ng, 57, said it was worrying every time she heard news about water rationing.

“I still remember carrying big pails of water up the stairs to my apartment on the third floor during water rationing many years ago.

Ng says she will not take the risk of not storing water for emergencies.

 

“It was very tiring and stressful,” she said.

Although water supply was sufficient in her neighbourhood in Sungai Chua, Ng said she would not take the risk of not storing water for emergencies.

“I have three big drums of water in the house since last month for toilet and washing use.

“We replace the water in the drums from time to time for fear that it will become a breeding ground for mosquitoes,” she said.

Another housewife P. Jayanthy, 50, from Sungai Ramal said her family experienced water disruption constantly for the past six years.

“I always have water stored in my house for cooking and drinking, just in case the taps run dry when we wake up in the morning or when we are out of the house.

Michael stores water although he has not experienced water cuts in recent months.

 

“We don’t like this but we do not have any other choice. We hope the new state assemblyman will help us resolve this problem,” she said.

Jayanthy said her sister and her family from Cheras, who are currently facing water disruption at their home, were forced to drop by her house to shower.

Mohummad Naim Saadon Badri, a 23-year-old personal driver from Cheras, said his neighbourhood faced water cuts quite often.

“We have to buy a new water tank for the house. It is very inconvenient and we hope the government will act fast to resolve our problem,” he said.

Housewife Norhalisah Nadi, 24, said her family staying near Saujana Impian just experienced water rationing last week.

“It is frustrating because the water supply was cut without notice. We have a baby and young children at home.

Norhalisah says water supply in her area was cut without any notice.

 

“We were forced to go to our relatives’ houses for our baths and for drinking water,” she said.

“Normally the children shower themselves, but now I give them their bath to ensure they do not waste water,” she said.

George Michael, a 47-year-old driver, said he had been staying in Sungai Chua for the past three months, but had not experienced water disruption.

“We store water just in case, because areas like Serdang and Seri Kembangan are having water supply problems,” he said.

Clerk Kong Sook Yin, 40, said water supply was not an issue in Sungai Chua for many years. However, her mother still kept enough water for two to three days.

Retiree Lee Teck Fock, 62, said he was never worried about the water rationing situation in Kajang.

“I do not store water. In fact, I have loaned my water drums and pails to my friends in Subang Jaya,” he added.