I have received complaints from parents that Sekolah Kebangsaan Balaban Jaya in Beluran is facing the issue of not having a complete permanent school building. The students are currently learning in wall-less tents and under the corridor of a mosque.
I have also been informed that the Ministry of Education Malaysia has allocated approximately RM2 million for the construction of a permanent school building. However, the construction process, including tender procedures, is expected to take several months and may take up to a year to complete.
I urge the Ministry of Education or the Sabah State Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation to take immediate action by providing temporary cabin classrooms as a stopgap measure. This is essential to ensure that children can study in a more comfortable and conducive environment while waiting for the permanent school building to be completed.
I appeal to the Minister and senior officials to visit the site and witness the situation firsthand. Children are currently forced to study in temporary placements at the mosque, some on the corridor, exposed to rain during wet weather, and under tents during the current hot weather. It breaks my heart to see our children having to learn under such conditions. Ministers and officials, imagine if your own children had to study under such circumstances—how would you feel?
This situation is truly distressing and should not be allowed to continue. How much longer are we willing to let children study in such conditions? Must our children continue to wait in an environment lacking basic facilities? If the 40% net tax revenues could be given earlier, situations like this would definitely not occur.
THAM YUN FOOK
N19 LIKAS ASSEMBLYMAN
