KOTA KINABALU: The water issue at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) persists, with a student movement group urging the university to sue the state Water Department for losses incurred during years of disruption.
Suara Mahasiswa UMS president Fadhil Kasim said a recent statement by the Sabah Water Department claiming sufficient water supply to the university was false.
"The department's statement on May 29 claiming that the supply in the R13 tank at UMS was always enough is irresponsible and a lie," he said.
He said constant water disruptions forced students and the UMS community to incur extra living costs, including renting, utilities, and education fees.
"We urge UMS to take legal action against the Sabah Water Department and sue them for at least RM100mil to cover these costs," said Fadhil.
To support this demand, he claimed a fact check by the student representative council and UMS maintenance and development department found days when water levels in the main UMS tank and the water department tank were at zero metres.
"This means the water supply from the Water Department did not reach UMS," he alleged.
Fadhil urged authorities, including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), to investigate potential corruption and abuse in handling this water crisis and the delayed Pan Borneo Project.
"The Pan Borneo project, which passes by UMS, is also seen as a factor in the UMS water crisis," he said.
He added that suspicions of a mega industrial company in Sepanggar using much of the supply meant for UMS should also be investigated.
He said the call for the Sabah Water Department to be sued will be among their main agendas at their scheduled peaceful rally on June 21 and June 22.
The water crisis in UMS started worsening about two years ago.
