UMS vice-chancellor Kasim Mansor said one tube well and one piping system were already in use, producing 150,000 litres of water per day, Daily Express reported.

The university needs about five million litres of water per day.

According to Kasim, the remaining wells and piping systems will be operational by March.

“These tube wells and the piping distribution system are meant to supply water to students staying at (hostels) in the university,” he was quoted as saying by the Sabah-based daily.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim questioned how the funds were spent and called for a detailed report on the water supply issue at UMS.

Anwar said he learned from social media that higher education minister Zambry Abdul Kadir was approached by students complaining about poor water supply.

Kasim said the RM3 million is being managed by the Implementation and Coordination Unit (ICU) under the Prime Minister’s Department and not UMS itself.

“We hope the public will not speculate on how the RM3 million is being used.

“I can assure you that the money is not missing or being used improperly,” he said.