Water: Additional RM2 million for UMS
Published on: Tuesday, January 09, 2024
By: Mohd Izham Bin Hashim
Zambry (third from right) with Mustapha (second from right) meeting UMS students protesting the water crisis at the campus.
Kota Kinabalu: Newly-minted Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Kadir was greeted by students holding placards during his first working visit to Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Monday.
Instead of a conventional welcome, the students waved placards to highlight to the federal Minister their plight of having to study while enduring water shortage.
ADVERTISEMENT
Dressed in black, they performed a song to apologise to Zambry for not getting the opportunity to shower before welcoming his entourage.
Placards reading “Water is a basic right” and “Say a prayer for water” were held up by the students at the entrance to the Multipurpose Hall of the Tun Fuad Residential College (KKTF).
Among those accompanying Zambry were Deputy Higher Education Minister Mustapha Sakmud and UMS Vice- Chancellor Datuk Kasim Mansor.
During the visit, Zambry announced an additional RM2 million for a short-term solution through management of the water pressure and tube well system.
ADVERTISEMENT
“After discussions with the UMS administration, I have agreed to channel the funds - RM1 million for the installation of necessary infrastructure and water pumps to resolve the low water pressure problem and another RM1 million to set up tube wells in potential areas with water sources,” he told reporters.
Zambry noted that the State Government already has plans to construct a larger capacity water tank, but such long-term measures will take time.
ADVERTISEMENT
It is learnt that there are Water Department tankers sending supplies to the campus, but it was insufficient for residents.
Last year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim agreed to provide an allocation of RM3 million to resolve the issue of water disruptions at the university.
Among the concerns raised by students include the need for transparency on how the allocations are being managed and the progress of works to resolve the problem.
The students also called for a reduction of accommodation fees due to the acute water woes.
Zambry assured that work on the RM3 million for water supply projects was underway, noting UMS has no issues in providing a detailed account of how the funds are used.
In response to questions about the timeframe for resolving the issue, the Minister said the total RM5 million allocated could resolve the matter, but emphasised the need for a prompt resolution.
“It can take two to four months as much work will involve many technical measures such as drilling for tube wells, as well as installation of new pipe systems and infrastructure, but I hope this will not take too long,” he said.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
