KOTA KINABALU: There has been no misappropriation of the RM3 million fund announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to solve the water supply problem at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), here.
Higher Education Deputy Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said the money was channelled to the Sabah Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) for payment to contractors while UMS is only acting as an intermediary.
He added that the budget, which was announced in May last year, was meant to build six tube wells to supplement water demand at the university campus.
The campus requires about 5 million litres per day (mld) for its 20,000 staff and students, however Sabah Water Department (JANS) could only cater 1.5MLD.
"I would like to emphasise that these tube wells are temporary and just to supplement the supply while JANS is working on the long term solution.
"For now, (the location of) four tube wells have been identified while the other two are still being identified.
"We are hoping that the drilling work can be expedited to assure that there is really water before the filtration and piping work can be done," he said, adding that the deadline of the project would be in March this year.
During the briefing, it is said that the four-month two-package contract for the six tube wells, which will be drilled 85-metres deep, is expected to yield about 720,000 litres per day.
Apart from one existing tube well, UMS is also relying on gravitational water flow, rainwater harvesting, renting empty water tankers, water pump and piping to deliver to students' dormitories among others.
As for the recent additional RM2 million allocations announced by the Higher Education Ministry, Mustapha said the fund was meant for connecting pipes.
Following newly appointed minister, Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir's visit last week, who was welcomed by undergraduates who did not shower, the water has become a national issue.
Mustapha said that the prime minister had mentioned the incident as the first agenda both during the Finance Ministry's addressing event and also at the cabinet meeting.
"As it was recorded in the meeting minutes, therefore there should be follow up actions.
"Both the Prime Minister and (Higher Education) minister had specifically requested me to go to the ground and make a weekly report.
"This issue has a sense of urgency and should be treated as 'urgent and important'.
"We have to work within our circle of influence. Therefore when I ask for a report, give me the correct information. I am an engineer. So, do not try to bluff me."
Meanwhile, UMS vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Kasim Mansor said that it is important for the team to ensure that the project is economically sustainable through proper work.
He added that the tube wells should not dry up in less than a year and eventually become a white elephant.
