UMS students say ‘We Want Water’ gathering to proceed
Published on: Saturday, June 08, 2024
By: Ricardo Unto
Mohammad (middle) and other gathering secretariat members at the press conference.
Kota Kinabalu: The organisers of the #KamiMahuAir (We Want Water) Sabah gathering will proceed with their plans to assemble in front of Menara Kinabalu here on June 14, despite being discouraged by Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Datuk Dr Kasim Mansor.
#KamiMahuAir Sabah Secretariat Coordinator Mohammad Norhamdin Nordin claimed the gathering has also received approval from the authorities.
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“The VC does not fully understand the purpose of this assembly. UMS hastily issued a statement as if we are only raising issues experienced at UMS,” he told a press conference here on Friday.
“In reality, this student movement is raising the water issues faced by the people in Sabah.
“He (Kasim) also warned students not to join the assembly, claiming it has not received approval from the authorities.
“Yesterday (Thursday), we submitted a notification regarding this gathering to the police.
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“We cannot predict the exact number of attendees, but based on the notification we gave to the police, we estimated an attendance of 100 people.”
Mohammad said the gathering manifests undergraduates’ solidarity with the people.
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“This is the primary message - the students will not remain silent if the people are affected. The students will stand with the people.”
Mohammad said the gathering secretariat had also prepared a memorandum to be handed over to relevant authorities, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
The memorandum includes the demand that the authorities ensure the water needs of the people in Sabah are adequately met without any excuses.
“The Federal Government must intervene immediately to address the water issues in Sabah as the Sabah State Water Department (JANS) has failed.
“The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) must promptly investigate any bodies involved to uncover any misappropriation of water supply funds in Sabah.
“The authorities must disclose the state of the water issues in Sabah to the public, and individuals who have failed to manage this issue, whether within JANS or the State Government, must resign.”
Mohammad said the water problem has been ongoing for a long time, and the people of Sabah have been very patient.
“We demand immediate and concrete action. The time for excuses is over. It is now time to act.
“The rights of the people of Sabah cannot be compromised,” he said.
Previously, Kasim had urged the student group to cancel its protest so that other students could focus on their studies.
He urged UMS students to refrain from taking part in the gathering.
He also reminded students that protests 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.
During a trip here on May 31 last year, the Prime Minister 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 Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir reportedly said that more time was needed to address UMS’s water problems.
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