KOTA KINABALU: Likas State Assemblyman Tham Yun Fook stressed that Parti Warisan assemblymen have never politicised education issues in Sabah, but are merely carrying out their responsibility as a check and balance by voicing long-standing education problems that have been neglected.
According to him, among the key issues raised are the conditions of schools in Sabah that continue to face various problems involving outdated and unsafe facilities.
He said the explanation given by Sabah Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Datuk James Ratib, regarding the terms “dilapidated schools” and “dilapidated buildings” appeared to be an attempt to mislead the public and cover up the government’s failure to address deteriorating school facilities in the state.
Tham stated that the actual condition of schools in Sabah is generally assessed by the Public Works Department (JKR) using a Scale 1 to Scale 7 classification.
According to him, buildings or schools classified under Scale 7 mean that the structures have been confirmed unsafe and recommended for demolition by JKR, usually requiring complete reconstruction.
He added that Scale 6 refers to buildings confirmed unsafe and requiring immediate replacement or redevelopment, while Scale 5 involves buildings reported to be less safe and requiring technical verification as well as urgent repair works.
He explained that a school may only have one or two building blocks classified under Scale 6 or 7, yet the school as a whole can still be categorised as a dilapidated school because part of its facilities are no longer safe for use even though other sections remain usable.
According to him, the terms “dilapidated schools” and “dilapidated buildings” should not be separated merely to play with terminology and statistics in order to reduce negative perceptions regarding the actual condition of schools in Sabah.
Tham also stressed that if the entire school building is classified under Scale 7, then the relocation or dispersal of students must be carried out immediately for the safety of students and teachers.
At the same time, he said the revelation that Sabah has a high number of dilapidated school buildings is a reality that must be acknowledged rather than hidden.
He said the matter is not intended to tarnish the reputation of any party or government, but to pressure the Federal Government through the Ministry of Education Malaysia to give more serious attention to the issue of dilapidated schools in Sabah.
He also urged the Federal Government to expedite the replacement and maintenance process for dilapidated schools by allocating more funding.
In addition, the Sabah Government was urged to play a firmer role in pushing for repair and reconstruction works to be accelerated for the future of Sabah’s children and education sector.
In the same statement, Tham said Sabahans should be grateful that there are still Parti Warisan assemblymen who dare to speak out and give serious attention to education issues in the state.
According to him, the voices raised are not only heard by the people but have also received attention and immediate action from the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, to ensure the welfare and safety of Sabah students continue to be protected.
He stressed that he will continue to speak out fearlessly for the people and the future of education in Sabah regardless of where such issues occur.
