PM wants report on ongoing water supply problem at UMS

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PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants to know why there is an ongoing water supply problem at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) despite the government approving RM3mil last year to overcome the problem.

At an assembly with staff of the Finance Ministry here on Tuesday (Jan 9), Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said he found out from social media that UMS students still face water problems and brought up the matter with Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.

"I don't understand (why the water problem is still not solved). Maybe the project takes time. I don't want to judge. I want a report on what has happened since the (RM3mil allocation) was approved by the Finance Ministry.

ALSO READ: Zambry announces extra RM2mil allocation to ease water woes at UMS

"Perhaps (Treasury secretary-general Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican) can ask the secretary-general of the ministry concerned... what happened since I approved (the allocation) and the actions taken by the ministry and the university," he added.

On May 31, the Federal Government approved the RM3mil allocation to UMS to resolve its water supply problem, and on Monday (Jan 8), Zambry announced an additional allocation of RM2mil to UMS for the same purpose.

Meanwhile, Anwar said every government machinery at the federal and state levels needs to have uniformity and a better understanding of the government's capabilities and the country's financial strength.

The prime minister said he took the opportunity to explain the country's financial position to the leaders of the Pahang government and the State Public Works Department in a meeting with them yesterday.

ALSO READ: UMS taking measures to ease water shortage impact on campus

During the meeting, he said, there were requests for allocations between RM7bil and RM8bil for infrastructure-related projects in the state.

"I see that sometimes there are states that are 'disconnected'. That's why I used that time to explain our debt, about the deficit. But (if) there is an urgent need, we approve allocations, for example, for management and 'maintenance'.

"This means that the government machinery should ensure not only uniformity but also understanding. For example, we want every officer, not only in the Finance Ministry but in every ministry, in the state and district, to understand at least what the government's capabilities are, what the constraints are," he said.

The meeting was also attended by Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying and Johan. – Bernama