Last month, higher education minister Zambry Abdul Kadir said that more time was needed to address UMS’s water woes. (Facebook pic)
PETALING JAYA: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has criticised a proposed protest by students over water supply issues blighting the university, calling it unnecessary.
UMS vice-chancellor Kasim Mansor said UMS had never encouraged its students to hold gatherings in public places without receiving permission from the authorities.
“The university believes that grievances on any issues should be voiced through the appropriate procedures and channels, without taking impulsive actions,” he said in a statement today.
This comes after the Suara Mahasiswa UMS group said it intended to hold a “#KamiMahuAir” (We Want Water) protest in front of the Kinabalu Tower state government complex on June 14 over the matter.
Kasim urged the student group to cancel its protest so that other students could focus on their studies. He urged UMS students not to take part in the gathering.
He also reminded students that protests, whether over the unresolved water supply problem or other current issues, were not permitted on campus grounds as these would cause public disturbance and taint the university’s image.
He added that a protest was not necessary as the problem was being closely monitored by deputy higher education minister Mustapha Sakmud.
“UMS is also aware that the state government is doing its best to resolve the water supply issue at UMS and the surrounding areas.”
During a trip to Kota Kinabalu on May 31 last year, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the federal government would channel RM3 million to the state government “in the next few days” to resolve UMS’s water woes.
In January, the university said it had used the RM3 million to build six tube wells and install six piping systems.
However, last month, higher education minister Zambry Abdul Kadir reportedly said that more time was needed to address UMS’s water woes.
