KOTA KINABALU: A viral open letter by a Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) student to Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has renewed attention to the university’s ongoing water supply woes.

Muhammad Rasul Rozmiezan, 21, a second-year sociology student from Kuching, Sarawak, said he wrote the letter to voice the concerns of Sarawakian students and push the issue to national attention.

“I understand the Premier’s limitations, but I believe he can help amplify our voices. What he does to help Sarawakians can also benefit Sabahans,” he said in the letter.

Rasul said students have gone without consistent water for days, with some resorting to cleaning themselves in faculty toilets, the mosque, or Chancellor Hall.

“Sometimes I had to bathe with bottled water or pay RM1 to shower at a shopping mall,” he said.

A student collects rainwater in a bucket from a dormitory balcony at UMS — a common practice due to inconsistent piped water supply on campus.

He added that the tube well system was murky and unsafe, and recalled having to search for water at 3am before final exams. “All residential colleges are affected,” he said.

So far, no one from the federal, Sabah or Sarawak governments has contacted him directly.

The letter has drawn mixed reactions online. While many praised Rasul’s courage, others called it embarrassing that Sabah needed Sarawak’s help, calling it a failure of basic infrastructure.

Sabah Works Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya said the government is working with the Water Department (JANS) and UMS to resolve the issue.

Students fill buckets from a communal outdoor pipe system at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) amid ongoing water supply disruptions.

“I was disappointed when I read the letter online. But I’ve visited the site to ensure the issue is being addressed,” he said.

He said water inflow into UMS’s main reservoir, R13, had stabilised over the past two days, but a faulty indicator had caused inaccurate readings, adding that JANS will replace it within three weeks.

“Hourly and daily updates will be given to UMS to help them manage pumping schedules,” he said, adding that both campus pumps are now functioning.

Shahelmey said JANS and UMS had held several meetings and agreed on measures to improve water volume and coordination.

R13 holds 10 million litres, while two other tanks at UMS store 6.75 and 3.5 million litres respectively.

Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said the current supply from JANS remains inconsistent, and the tube well system cannot meet UMS’s daily demand of five million litres.

“I’ve appealed to the Chief Minister to give UMS priority in the water distribution schedule,” he said.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2025...itys-water-woes

sabah & songlap berpisah tiada

why no water, balak potong habis?

Malu lah sikit sabah

sarahan sabah no water but complain to sarawak.

Abang Jo: ada aku kesah

PH again. Last time Selangor PH, despite being one of the richest state, also have no water starting 2014. It is because they want to play politic and refuse to start building Langat 2 water treatment plant in 2009. They would rather let people go without water.

You understand what TS wrote? Where does it say PH or Selangor?

Viral ady baru nak buat kerja.

Selangor's record when I was in UKM back then was months without water. Dang. Luckily I always flew back to Kuching.

as a Sabahan. This is really disgraceful.

PH again and PH again. Do you understand the word "again"?

You probably there after 2014 when PH more interested to play politic instead of taking care of water supply. Anything PH, you likely to see water problem

Teh tarik better than no water....
Low quality 'rakyat' elect low quality politikus

the truth is viral also tak buat kerja

that area all the way till sepanggar until today the water issue cannot resolve
because it's more than just supply, the infrastructure also problematic

so viral, protest also useless....nobody can ultimately fix it

LOL not only UMS, the whola sabah is a shit hole of water crisis.

Land of opportunity for politicians to get rich - sabahku indah

those illegal kampung steal the water away, since 80s already like that

those who steal today also no water to use

the infrastructure is way way too old
if u go to JANS FB page, everyday multiple notice about repairs state wide

after BN samok
ngri confirm masok parit

with the funding also the corruption inside the department is too bad