A student group from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has slammed the Sabah government’s nearly RM4 million purchase of ‘SMJ’ vehicle number plates, calling it a symbol of misplaced priorities as the university continues to struggle with basic water access.

“We strongly condemn the Sabah state government’s wasteful spending of around RM3,965,590.00 on the purchase of ‘SMJ’ number plates, while Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), located just 3 kilometres from the State Administrative Centre, continues to suffer from an endless water supply crisis.”

“This move by the state government is inhumane. It is deeply ironic that the federal government is spending around RM5 million to build tube wells at UMS, yet the Sabah government dares to spend almost RM4 million just for car number plates,” Suara Mahasiswa UMS spokesperson Aliff Danial said in a statement on Wednesday.  

Water shortages have plagued the UMS campus for years, affecting thousands of students. 

Some have had to collect rainwater or rely on temporary storage to meet daily needs — a situation the student group says reflects the disconnect between public spending and real community needs.

“UMS has been struggling with water issues for years, yet the purchase of SMJ 1–9999 plates can happen in the blink of an eye. Is this what ‘Sabah Maju Jaya’ really means?”  

“The state government spends extravagantly, while university students are forced to collect rainwater just to access clean water,” he said. 

Suara Mahasiswa UMS has been one of the more active student groups in Sabah. In June 2024, it led the #KamiMahuAir protest — a march and sit-in outside Menara Kinabalu demanding state intervention in the water crisis. 

It also held an anti-corruption rally in December, calling for greater government accountability.

Aliff said Sabah Maju Jaya or SMJ is merely a political symbol of the state government while in reality, Sabahans continue to suffer from basic issues such as clean water supply, damaged roads, poor infrastructure, lack of job opportunities, and worsening corruption. – April 23, 2025