KOTA KINABALU: The #KamiMahuAir (#WeWantWater) peaceful demonstration planned for Saturday (June 14) is illegal, city police say.
Kota Kinabalu OCPD Asst Comm Kasim Muda said the event, organised by Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) students and set to take place at the Chief Minister’s office in Menara Kinabalu, cannot be processed for approval.
ALSO READ: UMS should engage with its students’ reps to explain water woes
“We received the application from the organiser and a response letter stating that this application cannot be processed has been prepared,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (June 12).
However, police have not been able to contact the organiser, he said.
Nonetheless, the response letter had been sent via mail and WhatsApp, he added.
“This event does not have approval. No permit has been issued by Kota Kinabalu police to the organisers,” he said, urging the public not to participate in the planned demonstration.
Of late, there have been allegations on social media that the Sabah Water Department had not sent supply to UMS, leaving students to endure days without water.
This led to plans for the rally.
ALSO READ: Wira Warisan backs student protest over Sabah water woes
On Tuesday (June 11), Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said UMS' water issues should have been resolved as the Water Department had already repaired the broken pipe that caused the problem and was supplying water to the campus.
“For additional supply, UMS has tube wells and if I’m not mistaken, these can provide over one million litres daily.
"I am not sure what the problem is, so I asked UMS to find out," he added.
