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Daily Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Water: Student group wants UMS to take legal action
Published on: Thursday, June 05, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jun 05, 2025 By: Abbey Junior Text Size: 'I believe the VC is playing his role as the head of the university, and it's important that his stance remains consistent. This is the first time he has made such a statement, and we welcome it,' Fadhil said. Kota Kinabalu: Suara Mahasiswa UMS has urged Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) to take legal action against the State Water Department (JANS), demanding at least RM100 million in damages over the prolonged campus water crisis. In a statement, the student group accused JANS of misleading the public in its May 29 statement, which downplayed the severity of the water supply issue from the State-owned R13 tank — the main water source for UMS. The group cited internal documentation and reports from UMS's student council and maintenance unit showing that water levels in the R13 tank had dropped to zero on several days, halting supply to the campus. They also claimed this data had been officially shared with JANS and supported with photographic evidence. The group said the financial burden of the water crisis had been unfairly shifted onto students, many of whom faced repeated disruptions and had to bear additional costs, including tuition fees, off-campus rent, transportation, utility bills and other living expenses. 'UMS must sue JANS and the damages should be returned to the students — this is not just about water anymore. It's about accountability and justice,' the statement said. Earlier, Daily Express reported that UMS Vice-Chancellor Datuk Dr Kasim Mansur said the university had long been transparent about the water issue, and clarified that the R13 tank, owned and operated by JANS, had repeatedly failed to supply enough water to meet UMS's daily needs. Kasim said if water levels had been sufficient, students would not have resorted to holding demonstrations. Suara Mahasiswa President Fadhil Kasim welcomed the VC's remarks and said it marked an important shift in the university's stance. 'I believe the VC is playing his role as the head of the university, and it's important that his stance remains consistent. This is the first time he has made such a statement, and we welcome it,' he said. 'We will be meeting the VC tomorrow at 2pm to exchange views, possibly touching on the water issue.' The student group is organising Perhimpunan Aman Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0, a peaceful rally scheduled for June 21-22 in Kota Kinabalu to demand systemic accountability and a solution to longstanding infrastructure problems. They also alleged that students involved in past activism had been called in by police and faced threats — but maintained that they would not be intimidated in their push for justice. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Govt urged to stop weaponising laws against voices of UMS students
KOTA KINABALU (May 24): Amnesty International Malaysia has urged the government to drop all investigations against six students from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) who were summoned to the Kota Kinabalu district police headquarters (IPD) for investigations under Section 500 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (1998). Its Interim Executive Director, Vilasini Vijandran, said the investigation of thebstudent activists is a deeply concerning attack on freedom of expression. Peacefully voicing criticisms and making demands through a press conference should never be treated as criminal offenses. 'The timing of these investigations — just weeks ahead of the Perhimpunan Aman Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 rally in Kota Kinabalu — also sends a chilling message of intimidation by the Malaysian authorities. The Madani government must recognize that targeting student activists in this way not only suppresses youth voices but also risks fostering a culture of fear and self-censorship among them,' she said in a statement on Saturday. Vilasini said a moratorium on investigations under the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) is meaningless if authorities continue to rely on other repressive laws to stifle civic participation. 'This incident proves why amending the PAA alone is not enough — without systemic reforms and genuine respect for human rights, there will always remain ways to clamp down on public dissent. 'We urge the government to drop all investigations against the UMS students and commit to comprehensive legislative reforms that protect — not punish — peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. At this juncture, we need more than vague promises and minor amendments to legislation; we need the political will and systemic reform to dismantle the arsenal of laws used to silence public dissent in Malaysia,' she said. On May 22, the six UMS student activists were summoned to IPD Kota Kinabalu following a police report lodged against them. The students are being investigated under Section 500 of the Penal Code (defamation) and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (improper use of network facilities) after holding a press conference related to the upcoming Perhimpunan Aman Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 rally, scheduled for June 21–22 in Kota Kinabalu. This is not the first time UMS student activists have been targeted. In February 2025, UMS student leader Fadhil Kasim was charged under the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) — for failing to provide prior notice of an assembly — despite the government's earlier pledge to reform the law. The charges were later dropped following widespread pressure mounted by the public and civil society groups. Amnesty International Malaysia has repeatedly highlighted how the use of outdated laws to investigate and harass activists in Malaysia reflects a broader pattern of repression and undermines the credibility of the government's own reform commitments.
Malaysiakini
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Sabah student body announces June 21-22 rally in KK
A Sabah student movement announced a rally to protest the ongoing water crisis at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), controversial government appointments, and other issues. The Perhimpunan Aman Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 (Peaceful Rally Against Sabah Corruption 2.0) was set for June 21 and 22. At a press conference tonight, the Suara Mahasiswa UMS group, led by Fadhil Kasim, said...
