TANJONG MANIS: A temporary building will have to be put up immediately to accommodate more than 200 students and teaching staff of SK Orang Kaya Muda Pakeri, Paloh which has been declared unsafe for use.
Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Corporate Affairs, Information and UKAS) Datuk Abdullah Saidol said this needs to be implemented immediately to ensure the safety of students and to not affect their learning process.
Abdullah, who is also Semop assemblyman hoped that Tanjong Manis MP Yusuf Abdul Wahab can help getting approval for an immediate allocation not only to build a temporary structure but also to demolish the entire school building and build a new one.
“The damage to this building was detected six or seven years ago. Complaints have been made for a long time but some action has been taken only now,” he said to reporters after visiting SK Orang Kaya Muda Pakeri, Paloh, recently.
“And this situation disappoints the community from Kampung Paloh, Kampung Kedang and Kampung Berangan which is made up of six longhouses.
“The settlement here is far from other areas. There is no road to get here and there are no other schools nearby. This is the only school for all Paloh, Kedang and Berangan children in this area,” he said.
Abdullah said after receiving reports from the Forensic Unit of the Sarawak State Education Office, students living in the school’s dormitory were ordered to return home as the dormitory is now being used as a temporary classroom.
“I hope the State Education Office, the Ministry of Education and those involved would constantly monitor not only these poor and damaged schools but also immediately take action to ensure children’s education is not affected,” he added.
