Tuaran: More than 300 residents of Kg Lentuong, Tuaran are now enjoying continuous supply of clean water with the completion of the Etiqa Clean Water Project, a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of Etiqa in collaboration with Islamic Aid Malaysia (IAM).
Kampung Lentuong is inhabited by more than 50 families living in houses on the water along the mangrove shores of Teluk Mengkabong, which stretches for about 2.4 kilometres.
The opening and handover ceremony of the Clean Water Programme was officiated by Chief Executive Officer of Etiqa Family Takaful Berhad, Zafri Ab Halim and President of Islamic Aid Malaysia, Zawahir Abdullah.
The ceremony was held at the Kg Lentuong Community Surau, Tuaran, and was also enlivened by the presence of villagers.
Previously, the residents of Kg Lentuong relied on untreated hill water sources as their main supply due to the lack of a water pipe network.
During the dry season, the small size of the water catchment and low water pressure caused the water to become turbid and only suitable for bathing and washing clothes.
This situation also affects the income of the residents, especially fishermen who need clean water for daily use and commercial activities.
To improve the living standards of the residents, Etiqa fully funded the construction and upgrading of this clean water infrastructure project, which is being implemented together with Islamic Aid Malaysia.
This project includes upgrading two existing tanks to store water from nearby hills and Improving the pipeline system from the tanks to the houses, including the installation of 47 units of electric water pumps.
It also involved the construction of a new Pump House complete with two 2,000 gallon storage tanks and a synthetic membrane water filtration system.
Water from the catchment source is gravity fed to the pump house, treated first, then stored in tanks before being pumped to the residents’ homes using electric pumps.
In addition to meeting the daily needs of the residents, this clean water supply also supports the operations of the village Surau, the Sabah State Fisheries Department Office, and local aquaculture activities.
The project is also implemented in the spirit of gotong royong with IAM volunteers and villagers.
Etiqa also donated school supplies to 200 underprivileged students from around Tuaran under the Etiqa Corporate Zakat Responsibility Program.
The distribution ceremony took place at the An-Nur Mosque, Tuaran, where each student received two sets of school uniforms, a school bag, prayer mat, and two pairs of shoes and socks.
