KUCHING: Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has pledged to raise the issue of water supply disruptions at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) with Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir for further action.
In a statement today (May 27) the Premier said he has taken note of an open letter written by a UMS student regarding the alleged water supply issues affecting students at the university.
He expressed his appreciation for the feedback but clarified that the matter falls outside his jurisdiction and, therefore, he is unable to act on it directly.
The issue was brought to his attention through a letter by Muhammad Rasul Rozmiezan, a second-year UMS student from Sarawak, who appealed for the Premier’s intervention, highlighting ongoing water disruptions on campus.
In his letter, Rasul said that students have been facing prolonged and inconsistent water shortages for an extended period, with outages lasting several days and recurring frequently, seriously affecting students’ daily lives and hygiene conditions.
He described the situation as compromising the basic standard of living expected of a university, stating: “A university should offer a safe and conducive learning environment, but the current situation is deeply disappointing and burdensome.”
In his appeal, Rasul wrote: “With utmost respect and humility, I appeal to YAB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri to consider looking into this issue and help bring the voices of Sarawakian students studying far from home to the attention of the relevant national authorities.”
He also highlighted the emotional and practical difficulties students face being far from their families while managing essential needs on their own.
Rasul concluded his letter by expressing hope that the Premier would treat the issue with urgency to help safeguard student welfare.
