KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government should act on the water supply disruption at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) urgently, says National Consumer Foundation Malaysia (Sabah Chapter) chairman David Chan.

He said the crisis reflects poorly on the government’s ability to provide basic public utilities, especially to institutions of national importance.

"UMS is a prestigious university hosting thousands of local and international students.It is troubling that despite earlier promises of reform since the state government took over water management, the problem remains unresolved," said Chan on Wednesday (May 28).

He described it as unacceptable and added that the failure to provide a stable water supply undermines the university's credibility.

Chan questioned why the issue has persisted for so long and urged the authorities to offer a transparent explanation and implement immediate corrective measures.

"Students have reportedly been left in limbo, with some even lodging complaints with the Premier of Sarawak, indicating growing frustration and desperation," he added.

He outlined several interim solutions, including increasing water tanker deliveries, enhancing pump pressure and flow, and considering underground water drilling and mobile filtration systems.

Chan said the welfare and dignity of students must be prioritised, emphasising that UMS, as a national asset, deserves better support.

"We urge the government to act swiftly and provide a clear roadmap to address this issue. This is no longer just an inconvenience. It is a matter of public trust and responsibility," he said.

Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg has pledged to bring the issue to the attention of Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.

This follows an open letter by Muhammad Rasul Rozmiezan, a 21-year-old Sarawakian student at UMS, detailing the severe water issues.

Rasul described days without running water, reliance on stored water, and a lack of urgency from campus authorities.

He appealed for action on behalf of both Sarawakian and Sabahan students, stressing that the crisis is not a state-specific problem.

Although Abang Johari acknowledged the issue, he stated it was beyond his jurisdiction but promised to escalate it to the federal ministry.

Neither UMS nor the ministry has publicly responded yet.