KOTA KINABALU: The statement by the Minister of Education Malaysia that school safety must not be compromised following the tragic electrocution incident which claimed the life of a student in Daro, Sarawak has been welcomed by various parties.
According to the statement, the tragedy should serve as a serious warning that the maintenance and safety of school infrastructure must not be taken lightly.
However, the reality remains that many schools in Sabah and Sarawak, particularly in rural, interior and island areas, continue to face poor conditions and lack of basic facilities.
Among the ongoing problems are outdated electrical wiring systems, damaged ceilings, unstable water and electricity supply, as well as school buildings that are no longer safe for use.
The statement stressed that tragedies such as the one in Daro must not only become temporary reactions after deaths or major incidents occur.
In this regard, the Federal Government through the Ministry of Education Malaysia was urged to conduct a comprehensive safety audit on all high-risk schools in Sabah and Sarawak, as well as expedite maintenance allocations and infrastructure upgrading works for schools.
According to the statement, the safety of students and teachers must be made a priority rather than waiting for tragedies to happen before action is taken.
It added that children in Sabah and Sarawak also deserve to enjoy a safe, comfortable and dignified learning environment just like students in other states across Malaysia.
At the same time, the statement also proposed that the Ministry of Education Malaysia review the use of the term “eradication of dilapidated schools”, particularly involving Sabah and Sarawak.
The proposal suggested that the term be changed to “eradication of dilapidated buildings”, considering that many school buildings and facilities are still old, damaged and unsafe for use.
The statement also referred to remarks made by Sabah’s Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Datuk James Ratib, during the recent Sabah State Legislative Assembly sitting, stating that Sabah no longer has any “dilapidated schools”.
However, according to the statement, questions still arise regarding the data and assessments used to support the claim, as the reality on the ground shows many schools are still facing serious infrastructure problems.
The statement stressed that what matters more is not playing with terminology or classifications on paper, but resolving the actual conditions faced daily by students and teachers.
