Kota Kinabalu: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) is taking measures to reduce the impact of water shortage in its campus here, due to water rationing that is expected to last until 2024.
UMS Vice Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Kasim Mansor said besides constant contact with the Sabah Water Department and daily monitoring of water level in the department’s tank there, the university had also provided external water tanks at the college dorm locations.
“UMS at present is also using the lorry tank service from Penampang’s Moyog water treatment plant, with up to 20 deliveries daily or up to 300,000 litres daily for undergraduates’ use at dorms and buildings around the campus,” he said in a statement.
Earlier, Prof Kasim revealed that the Kota Kinabalu campus needed between three million litres per day (MLD) to 5 MLD to accommodate needs, but was aware that the university was among those affected from water supply rationing from Telibong water treatment plant in Tuaran.
He said based on meetings with the State Water Department, they were informed that the combined areas where Telibong plant was supplying water required 190 MLD, but the facility could only accommodate 164 MLD.
“The department is also facing water theft or leakages up to 8 MLD, and at the same time, pipe upgrading along Pan Borneo highway are also currently being done.
“According to the information from the department, the water disruption issues are expected to be settled in 2024 for these areas involved, so they have to do rationing in the meantime,” he added.
Prof Kasim said UMS had also looked for alternative water sources within campus, where they had built a piping system to get water sourced from the hills that could provide 80,000 litre per day.
“The university will also identify other hill water sources and build new piping to channel water to undergraduates (in dorms).
“For a long term plan, we are looking at channelling water via ‘tube wells’.
“These measures may not be a complete solution, but UMS is committed to do what is necessary to reduce the water rationing impact for the comfort of our undergraduates and staff,” he added.
Immigration
defends raid
at illegal
settlement
SEREMBAN: The Indonesians who were detained in an enforcement operation at an illegal settlement in Nilai Spring on Feb 1 are believed to have had no intention of returning to their country of origin and wanted to remain in Malaysia without valid documents, said the Immigration Department.
Immigration Director-General Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud said based on an inspection, the settlement – that was built on uneven land and in a swampy area – was found to have existed for a long time.
“It is located about 1.2 km from the main road. There are also metal trap fragments scattered, and dogs roaming in the area,” he said in a statement.
“The place is equipped with generators and has a makeshift school that uses the learning syllabus of a neighbouring country.”
The statement was issued in response to a news report saying Indonesia’s National Commission on Human Rights had condemned the raid in Nilai Spring.
Khairul said 68 Indonesians were checked in the operation and 67 were detained for offences such as not having valid identification documents and overstaying. Those detained were aged between two months and 72 years.
Khairul said the enforcement operation was not related to the implementation of the Labour Recalibration Programme 2.0 (RTK 2.0) which began on Jan 27, which is aimed at regularising illegal immigrants in the country as foreign workers.
“Illegal immigrants should take the opportunity to apply for the RTK 2.0 to continue to be in Malaysia legally,” he said.
Khairul also said the immigration department always strove to ensure the welfare of detainees, including children and women at immigration detention depots, continued to be protected.
He said the matter was also discussed during a meeting between Home Minister Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and his Indonesian counterpart on Jan 31.
Khairul said the entry and presence of foreigners in this country were subject to policies, regulations and laws of the country, including the need to have valid travel documents and to comply with the conditions of work permits.
He said the Immigration Department had acted in an orderly manner to ensure the country’s sovereignty was preserved and that it would expedite the deportation of the detainees to their countries of origin.
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