Latest news with #SabahStateWaterDepartment
The Star
4 days ago
- General
- The Star
Sabah Water Dept urged to apologise to UMS over 'misleading' statement
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah State Water Department faces criticism for downplaying water supply issues at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS). The National Consumer Foundation Malaysia Sabah Chapter demands a public apology to the university and its students. 'The department's statement is misleading, disrespectful, and damaging to a respected institution of higher learning,' said the foundation's Sabah chairman David Chan, on Tuesday (June 3). Chan described the situation as 'completely unacceptable,' noting the department blamed UMS' internal systems without prior technical consultation or verification. 'UMS employs experts, including engineers with Master's and PhD qualifications. Suggesting poor management dismisses their capabilities and insults the academic community,' he said. Chan also urged the department to retract its statement and work with UMS to resolve the water issue long-term. 'Public agencies must uphold transparency and professionalism, not shift blame or damage reputations,' he added. Chan called on Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and relevant ministries to review the conduct of senior officers, citing eroded public trust in the agency. The controversy began with a Sabah Water Department statement on May 29, claiming UMS received sufficient water and any shortages were due to internal issues. In response, UMS vice-chancellor Datuk Dr Kasim Mansur expressed outrage, calling the claim 'a lie' and 'insulting to our intelligence'. 'If there was enough water, students wouldn't protest. Saying the supply is sufficient is a lie. It's insulting. We are not stupid,' Kasim said. He explained the problem lies in UMS' higher elevation and water distribution from the R13 tank, which also supplies nearby areas. Despite its proximity, UMS often receives water last due to its location on higher ground. 'Our job is to teach students, not provide water,' Kasim said, adding the university had sent letters to the department since 2020 with no response. He refuted claims of faulty equipment, stating that UMS has three functioning pumps. 'When one broke, it was fixed in three days. The system works when there's enough water. Do not use the pump as an excuse,' said Kasim. UMS, serving over 23,000 students and staff daily, relies on tube wells and rainwater harvesting, which provide only a fraction of the 3.5 to 5mil litres needed each day. Earlier, UMS student group Suara Mahasiswa urged the university to sue the water department, demanding RM100mil in damages for disruptions and the financial burden on students. A peaceful student rally is scheduled for June 21 and 22. --
The Star
29-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Sabah Water Department defends UMS supply operations amid student outcry
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah State Water Department has defended its water supply operations to Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), insisting that the supply has remained sufficient at all times despite growing complaints from students over prolonged shortages. In a statement on Thursday (May 29), the department said that Tank R13, which supplies water to the university, has never been empty or at a level that would prevent water from being pumped. 'The daily water requirement for UMS is five million litres, and the volume in Tank R13 exceeds that. The issue is not the supply, but internal pumping operations within the university,' the department said. They advised UMS to improve its water pumping capacity and, if current equipment is inadequate, to replace it with higher-capacity or more efficient pumps. The department also confirmed it had been informed of UMS' plans to construct a new tank and install new pumps to resolve the matter. The clarification follows criticism from Suara Mahasiswa, a UMS student group, which claimed that campus life has been severely affected by ongoing water disruptions. The issue gained further attention when a Sarawakian student studying at UMS penned an open letter to Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, appealing for his intervention. In the letter, the student expressed concern for the welfare of fellow Sarawakian students, describing the situation as 'embarrassing' and 'unacceptable.' Abang Johari acknowledged the letter and, while noting that the matter fell outside his jurisdiction, said he would refer the issue to Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir for his attention and action. Sabah Water reiterated its commitment to transparency, technical efficiency, and professional cooperation with UMS in the interest of students, staff and the wider community. Meanwhile, Sabah Works Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya said the state government was working closely with both the water department and UMS to find a resolution. Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said the supply from the department remains inconsistent, while the tube well system on campus was unable to meet UMS's daily demand of five million litres. 'I have appealed to the Chief Minister to prioritise UMS in the water distribution schedule,' he said.
The Sun
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
MACC: RM177m seizure among largest in Azam Baki's career
PETALING JAYA: The Chief Commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Tan Sri Azam Baki, recently confirmed that the RM177 million cash seizure in an investigation involving Malaysia's ninth Prime Minister is among the largest he has encountered in his entire career. Azam added that the RM53.3 million in cash found during the 2016 investigation into the Sabah State Water Department scandal is a close second—ranking among the largest amounts of cash seized during his 42-year tenure with the anti-graft agency. While he did not explicitly name Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob in reference to the probe, he stated that the volume of cash seized was so substantial that it produced what he referred to as the 'scent of money', as quoted from Harian Metro. 'Money is like a magnetic force that can cause a person to lose their moral compass and integrity, because when given a choice, they will always choose money. 'I still remember during a press conference in October 2016, I saw so much cash placed in a room at the MACC office in Sabah. Even if there had been faeces there, it wouldn't have had a smell, because the scent that filled the room was the 'fragrant smell of money',' he was quoted as saying. Azam also addressed allegations of 'selective investigations', which were raised during a press conference in March regarding the Ismail Sabri case. 'I responded: just look at the cash laid out on the table—does this look like a selective investigation?' Azam was quoted as saying. At the press conference, the MACC displayed around RM170 million in cash in various international currencies, along with 16 kilogrammes of pure gold bars worth nearly RM7 million. The items were displayed following the MACC's disclosure that hundreds of millions in cash and valuables had been seized from three premises, including a 'safehouse', in connection with a corruption and money laundering case reportedly involving Ismail Sabri. The seized cash included various currencies, such as Baht, Riyal, Pound Sterling, Won, Euro, Swiss Franc, and Yuan. Azam also commented on the recent meeting of the Special Committee on Corruption (JKMR), where he acknowledged being questioned about allegations of systemic corruption in Malaysia. 'They asked me, and I responded — the corruption we are seeing today stems from past influences, such as upbringing by family members, personal attitudes, and the environments in which we were educated. In the past, we had leaders with the will to fight corruption, which led to the formation of the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA). 'But once the national economy began to boom, and many people became wealthy through gains from the stock market, the pursuit of material wealth intensified. 'That was when integrity became a secondary concern. We also started teaching our children to chase success and wealth, rather than encouraging them to become responsible and principled individuals,' he was quoted as saying.
The Sun
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
RM177m seized in PM9's case was the largest amount in career, says Azam Baki
PETALING JAYA: The Chief Commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Tan Sri Azam Baki, recently confirmed that the RM177 million cash seizure in an investigation involving Malaysia's ninth Prime Minister is among the largest he has encountered in his entire career. Azam added that the RM53.3 million in cash found during the 2016 investigation into the Sabah State Water Department scandal is a close second—ranking among the largest amounts of cash seized during his 42-year tenure with the anti-graft agency. While he did not explicitly name Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob in reference to the probe, he stated that the volume of cash seized was so substantial that it produced what he referred to as the 'scent of money', as quoted from Harian Metro. 'Money is like a magnetic force that can cause a person to lose their moral compass and integrity, because when given a choice, they will always choose money. 'I still remember during a press conference in October 2016, I saw so much cash placed in a room at the MACC office in Sabah. Even if there had been faeces there, it wouldn't have had a smell, because the scent that filled the room was the 'fragrant smell of money',' he was quoted as saying. Azam also addressed allegations of 'selective investigations', which were raised during a press conference in March regarding the Ismail Sabri case. 'I responded: just look at the cash laid out on the table—does this look like a selective investigation?' Azam was quoted as saying. At the press conference, the MACC displayed around RM170 million in cash in various international currencies, along with 16 kilogrammes of pure gold bars worth nearly RM7 million. The items were displayed following the MACC's disclosure that hundreds of millions in cash and valuables had been seized from three premises, including a 'safehouse', in connection with a corruption and money laundering case reportedly involving Ismail Sabri. The seized cash included various currencies, such as Baht, Riyal, Pound Sterling, Won, Euro, Swiss Franc, and Yuan. Azam also commented on the recent meeting of the Special Committee on Corruption (JKMR), where he acknowledged being questioned about allegations of systemic corruption in Malaysia. 'They asked me, and I responded — the corruption we are seeing today stems from past influences, such as upbringing by family members, personal attitudes, and the environments in which we were educated. In the past, we had leaders with the will to fight corruption, which led to the formation of the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA). 'But once the national economy began to boom, and many people became wealthy through gains from the stock market, the pursuit of material wealth intensified. 'That was when integrity became a secondary concern. We also started teaching our children to chase success and wealth, rather than encouraging them to become responsible and principled individuals,' he was quoted as saying.
