Kota Kinabalu: The four tube well sites identified at Universiti Malaysia Sabah(UMS) are a short-term solution to support the State Water Department’s (SWD) efforts to supply water to the university.
Deputy Higher Education Minister, Datuk Mustapha, said results of studies carried out by the UMS geology department identified four water sources within the university grounds for drilling works.
“It’s important to remember what we are doing here is still a short term solution solely for UMS since the availability of water sources is also shared with the University’s residents.
“Unfortunately, the State Water Department’s main supply is unable to sustain the needs of the university’s 20,000 residents consisting of students, teaching staff and workers which involve an average consumption of 50 million litres of water daily,” he said.
Furthermore, Mustapha who is also Sepanggar Member of Parliament, said the project would be given priority as a short term solution to help resolve the water crisis at the university.
“This project will be placed in the ‘urgent and important quadrant’ as this issue has received the attention of Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Federal Minister of Higher Education, Datuk Seri Zambry Kadir, likewise.
“I want to see this issue resolved,” he said, after attending a briefing on tubewell drilling works at the Pustaka Mini College at the Tun Pangiran Ahmad Raffae residences at UMS on Saturday.
“The issue of water will be highlighted in weekly reports in meetings, and I want progress reports delivered to the Ministry every week to ensure the project can be closely monitored and completed smoothly according to deadlines,” he said.
Mustapha said the RM3 million allocation announced by the Prime Minister was channelled into tubewell drilling works, while the additional RM2 million woul be used for the installation or pipeworks.
“Both allocations are channeled to the Coordination and Implementation Unit(ICU), and not UMS. I would like to reassure there is no element of mismanagement and the issue of budgets are utilised properly in accordance of financial guidelines provided,” said the minister.
In a related issue, Mustapha reiterated his Ministry also hopes the State Water Department has a long term solution to address the acute water problem that has gripped Sepanggar.
“I hope the Water Department can offer their assistance and expertise to provide long term measures to tackle the water problems faced by the people.
“This issue is under the responsibility of the State Water Department, therefore I am asking the State Government to closely monitor the progress and ensure water projects in the state are implemented successfully,” said Mustapha.
Among those who accompanied the minister during his visit include UMS Vice Chancellor, Datuk Dr Kassim Md Mansor.
