KOTA KINABALU: University Malaysia Sabah (UMS) is partnering with Public Works Department (PWD) to assist in its effort to develop sewage treatment of the highest standard in the state.
Rosalam (left) exchanging the documents with Junaidi as John (second right) witnesses.
The university yesterday signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with the department together with another partner, Forever Sabah (FS), to jointly implement Sewage Treatment Excellence (JUFSTEX).
The programme is a collaborative and equitable partnership aimed at providing strategic direction and leadership towards ensuring that raw sewage here is treated to the required water quality standard.
Under the LoI, the three partners will work towards training, research, development, advisory proposal, awareness, community benefit, and social change to attain sewage treatment of the highest standards in this state.
State department director Datuk Dr John Anthony said the partnership was also aimed at addressing legislation issues revolving around sewerage in the state.
“Hopefully we could come up with refined laws and enactment associated with sewerage management and treatment.
“Another issue we would like to address under this collaboration would be the continuous improvement of our wastewater treatment system – it can be technology in terms of biological or mechanical and electrical, especially in lowering power usage, such as green technology,” he said.
Representing UMS at the signing was its dean of Faculty of Engineering Prof Ir Dr Rosalam Sarbatly, while FS was represented by its director Datuk Dr Junaidi Payne.
The programme will also facilitate and enable PWD staff to be enrolled into UMS’ masters and degree programmes to work on research that can bring long-term value to JUFSTEX.