School in Sarawak to finally receive new mattresses, pillows

A secondary school in Sarawak will finally get new mattresses and pillows after state assemblyperson Baru Bian highlighted the plight of students there who were provided with old, stained and torn mattresses.

Photos taken by the Ba’ Kelalan assemblyperson's wife at a transport company on Tuesday, show new mattresses and pillows marked for SMK Sundar.

The Borneo Post quoted Baru as saying that Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Fatimah Abdullah had spoken to him on the matter on Monday.

Based on his conversation with Fatimah – who is in charge of education in the state – Baru believes it was clear she did not doubt his claim of the appalling condition of the boarding facilities and the insufficient and torn textbooks given to the students.

“I am appreciative of the fact that Fatimah has taken the matter seriously,” he was quoted as saying.

Baru earlier this week said he received photos from a parent who had sent his son to start the new school year at SMK Sundar.

The photos show that textbooks offered to the pupils were insufficient, old and torn, and the mattresses in the dormitory - old, stained and torn.

Quoting the parent, Baru said students scrambled for textbooks like fish going for food.

“Their growing bodies need proper rest but they are given mattresses that are torn, stained, smelly and unhygienic,” Baru had said. -Mkini