Warisan Why Sabah Govt Denied Ums Water Crisis Despite Evidence

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A Warisan representative today questioned why the Sabah government allegedly downplayed the critical water crisis at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), despite substantial evidence.
In a statement today, the party’s Youth chief Terence Au said the matter was confirmed after UMS vice-chancellor Kasim Mansur criticised the Sabah State Water Department’s (Jans) claim that water supply to the campus had always been sufficient.
“To say the supply has always been enough is a lie. It’s insulting our intelligence. We are not stupid.
“If there was enough water, the students wouldn’t be shouting, they wouldn’t be protesting,” The Star reported Kasim saying yesterday.
Universiti Malaysia SabahAu said the vice-chancellor’s statement directly contradicts previous claims by Jans and the GRS-led state government that the university’s water supply was adequate.
“UMS is not just any institution; it’s Sabah’s top university, a symbol of our state’s future. If even its students are deprived of something as basic as water, what does that say about the government’s priorities?” Au questioned.
He also asked why the university’s efforts to address the issue since 2023 were ignored or dismissed by Jans.
It was reported that in a Jans statement on May 29, the department claimed the “R13” tank in UMS “has never been empty” and that any shortcomings were because of internal pumping issues.
Tank on high ground, rarely filled
However, Kasim was quoted as saying the real issue lies with UMS’ location and the way the water supply is distributed.
He explained that the R13 tank, built when the university was founded in 1995 and fully operational by 2000, also supplies other areas, including Likas Hospital, 1Borneo Hypermall, Alamesra town, Kingfisher town, and several government buildings.
Because UMS is situated on higher ground, Kasim said it often receives little or no water, as water flows to lower-lying areas first.
He added that the university can only begin pumping when the water level in the tank reaches at least 0.5m, which is rarely achieved.
“Most days, it doesn’t even reach that because the water flows to other areas first. Just because the tank is here doesn’t mean it helps us,” he said.
Kasim said the university started facing water shortages as early as 2020, following rapid development in nearby areas.
UMS requires between 3.5 and five million litres of water daily and serves about 11,000 on-campus students and over 23,000 people during the day, including staff and those commuting in.
In response to the persistent shortages, UMS reduced its pump intake in 2023 to adjust to the low supply.
However, Jans reportedly imposed a restriction, warning UMS not to pump when levels fall below 0.5 metres, citing the need to protect supply for other users, including hospitals.
Kasim reportedly said numerous letters were sent to Jans over the years, urging for intervention, but he never received a formal reply.
“We are producing human resources, not water. Our job is to teach students, not to provide water,” he said.
He also rejected suggestions that the problem stemmed from faulty equipment.
“They said our pumps are not good. We have three pumps – all are good. Only recently, one broke down, and it was repaired within three days,” he was quoted as saying.
Hourly water status updates
The Star today reported Sabah Works Minister Shahelmey Yahya saying that Jans will now provide hourly updates on water levels at UMS’ R13 tank, following Kasim’s heightened criticism.
The state minister said this is to help UMS manage its pumping schedule and ensure better water distribution on campus.
“A new water level indicator has been ordered and should be installed within one or two weeks. I will revisit UMS once that is completed to ensure smooth coordination,” he told reporters in Putatan.
Sabah Works Minister Shahelmey YahyaShahelmey also said Jans’ records showed a consistent water supply since May 19.
However, he explained that from May 14-19, one of UMS’ pumps was down, possibly affecting water delivery to the campus.
Apologise to UMS students and public
Meanwhile, Au trained his guns on the state administration, accusing it of betraying public trust.
“Now that the works minister has admitted to faulty tank indicators and broken pumps, does this not directly expose previous statements as misleading?
“This is not just a technical glitch, it’s a failure of governance. It’s a betrayal of public trust. Basic access to water is a human right, not a political talking point.
“The people of Sabah are not fools. We demand transparency, accountability, and a full resolution to the UMS water crisis. GRS must apologise to UMS students and the public and prove that this will never happen again,” Au said.
UMS student group Suara Mahasiswa was also reported as urging the university to take legal action against Jans and is demanding RM100 million in damages for years of water disruption and the financial burden it placed on students. - Mkini

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