UMS struck by water woes again, survives on bottled water and virtual classes

UMS vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Kasim Mansur 

By Olivia Miwil
olivia@nst.com.my

Picture courtesy of Universiti Malaysia Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: Thousands of students and staff at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) are facing another water supply disruption.

The shortage was reported to have been caused by several breakdowns at multiple sites around Sepanggar near here.

Despite the predicament, Student Representative Council (MPP) Welfare Department head Mohamad Furkhan Abdullah said the university had been actively addressing the issue.

Among the measures taken was a site visit to the R13 tank operated by the Sabah State Water Department (JANS) to gain a clearer picture of the situation.

“We saw firsthand that the water level in the tank was very low, which explains the cause of the disruption on campus and in the surrounding areas,” he said, adding that vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Kasim Md Mansur was also present during the inspection yesterday.

He also expressed appreciation for the distribution of mineral water to students in residential colleges.

“The provision of mineral water not only eases the burden on students but also assures that their welfare and health remain a priority for the university,” he said, adding that UMS has also implemented virtual classes during the disruption.

Meanwhile, Sepanggar Member of Parliament Mustapha Sakmud was reported as saying that water supply is expected to be restored soon as repair works have been carried out.

Mustapha, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs), said water tankers have been deployed to affected areas as a short-term measure to ensure that users’ basic needs are met.

For the past few years, UMS has drawn attention — including from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim — over its chronic water supply issues affecting thousands of students.

In 2023, Anwar announced an immediate RM3 million allocation for tube wells and maintenance. In May 2025, Higher Education Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir allocated an additional RM2 billion. In July last year, Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof said another RM1 million under the Energy Transition and Water Transformation initiative would be used for short-term interventions to reduce water supply disruptions.