STUDENT activists from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) have launched an overnight sit-in at Lintasan Deasoka, vowing to remain until 1pm Sunday as part of their protest for clean governance and urgent water reforms.
Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 rally goers comprising student activist group Suara Mahasiswa UMs earlier took a 1.2-kilometre march from Suria Sabah to Lintasan Deasoka in Gaya Street under steady rain.
The student group moved through the downtown area chanting anti-corruption slogans and beating tom-tom drums, disrupting busy weekend traffic in several road sections of the town centre as they made their way to the sit-in location.
It took them over an hour and 30 minutes to arrive at Lintasan Deasoka where they would spend the next 12 hours before ending their protest Sunday afternoon.
By the time they reached Lintasan Deasoka near Gaya Street around 4pm, their numbers had dwindled to roughly half of the original 40 participants, which include several members of the public.
Despite the reduced turnout, organisers reaffirmed their commitment to stay through the night.
“This is about dignity,” said student leader Fadhil Kasim.
“We’ll stay until 1pm tomorrow because Sabahans deserve answers — on corruption, on water, and on leadership.”
At the centre of the demonstration is ongoing frustration over water disruptions at UMS and across Sabah.
They also reiterare their criticiscm both the state government and university administrators for failing to resolve the situation.
“Students are buying bottled water just to bathe — how is that acceptable in a public university?” Fadhil said.
“G2G excuses don’t hold when taps are dry,” he said as he insist that they would sue the government over the problem.
The group accused both state and federal leaders of failing to act decisively, despite repeated complaints and media attention.
Suara Mahasiswa UMS also reiterated demands for structural reform of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), calling for greater independence and accountability in investigations involving senior political figures.
“The MACC can’t be seen as protecting the powerful.
“We need real reform, not slogans,” said Fadhil as also question the extension of the MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.
Fadhil also voiced strong opposition to the proposal to appoint Tan Sri Musa Aman, Sabah’s former Chief Minister, as the new UMS Chancellor.
“To elevate someone still viewed by many as a symbol of past excess is unacceptable.
It sets the wrong tone for students and for Sabah,” he said.
Meanwhile, a separate group known as Gabungan Mahasiswa Mahasiswi Sabah (GAMMAS), believed to be supportive of the state government, had gathered earlier near the same location.
However, the group dispersed before Suara Mahasiswa arrived.
There were no reports of confrontation.
Police also maintained a visible but non-intrusive presence throughout the afternoon.
As night fell, Suara Mahasiswa planned a symbolic gathering filled with lectures and discourse before formally concluding their protest at 1pm on Sunday. - June 21, 2025
