The Vice Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Prof Datuk Dr Kasim Md Mansur, stated that the RM3 million allocated to the university is being utilized to address water supply issues. This allocation was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in 2023 and is specifically meant for the construction of six wells and a new piping system.
According to Prof Kasim, one well has already been constructed and the remaining five are expected to be completed by March 2024. He emphasized that their priority is to provide good facilities to the students in addition to striving for academic excellence.
He also mentioned that the disbursement of the RM3 million fund is based on the completion of the work, and efforts are being made to expedite the construction process.
Prof Kasim clarified that the allocation funds are not directly held by the university, but rather by the Implementation and Coordination Unit under the Prime Minister’s Department. He appealed to the public not to politicize the issue, emphasizing that the money has not been misused and that the university upholds the highest level of integrity concerning public funds.
UMS board of directors chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan attributed the water supply challenges at UMS to the presence of squatter colonies. He stated that around 18 million liters of water are illegally siphoned off every day to these colonies, which comprise approximately 12,000 houses.
