Kota Kinabalu: The RM3 million pledged by the Prime Minister to Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) to address water woes has not been misappropriated but is being used to erect six tube wells to tap underground water and install a new piping system.
UMS Vice-Chancellor Prof. Datuk Dr Kasim Md Mansur said work on one such well and piping has been completed and being used by students while the remaining five are expected to be ready by March.
He said the tube wells project was deemed the best short-term measure to address the water woe.
He said work is being expedited and payment (from the RM3m allocation) is based on work completed.
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“These tube wells and the piping distribution system are meant to supply water to students staying at accommodations in the university.
“We are working hard to tackle this issue as our number one priority is academic excellence and to provide best facilities to students,” he told Daily Express, Thursday.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wondered what happened to the allocation upon learning in social media that UMS students staged a protest, some with placards complaining that they are forced to go without taking their bath.
The students took the opportunity to vent their frustration during a visit by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Kadir on Monday, whereby the latter approved another RM2m allocation to alleviate their plight.
To a question, Prof. Dr Kasim said the RM3 million allocation is with the Implementation and Coordination Unit (ICU) under the Prime Minister’s Department and not in UMS hands.
“We hope the public will not speculate on how the RM3 million is being used.
“I can assure that the money is not missing or improperly used. We uphold the highest level of honesty in integrity when comes to public funds,” he said.
He said UMS needs five million litres per day (MLD) and is collaborating with the Sabah Water Department (JANS) to pump in more water as well as using water tankers. At the same time, UMS is also harvesting rain water and sourcing gravity water from a nearby hill.
He said cartons of bottled drinking water are also delivered to students staying at the university accommodations upon request.
On the additional RM2m announced by Dr Zambry, Dr Kasim said it would be used to build tube wells and its piping system for water distribution.
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