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Somewhere along Federal Route 68 — the old trunk road that winds between Genting Sempah and Janda Baik before the Karak Highway made it optional — a PVC pipe juts out of a mossy retaining wall and runs cold, clear water.

Constantly, without fail.

On any given morning, you will find men lined up along the narrow road, filling dozens of reused 5.5-litre mineral water bottles directly from the pipe.

Some bring plastic jerricans, some bring large containers.