Authorities play catch-up as more Sabah students risk lives

 

Authorities are once again playing catch-up as yet another incident of students in Sabah risking their lives to go to school gained attention on social media.

On Jan 13, a Facebook page called "A Korn Korn" posted images of primary school students in uniform on a cramped boat, without life jackets.

The Facebook user said he was forced to highlight the issue before something unfortunate happens.

The photographs showed more than 20 students from Kampung Pituru Timbang Taun in Kota Marudu, Sabah, cramped into the boat to travel to their school at SK Mangkapon Pitas, which is accessible through Sungai Bongkol.

After the photographs went viral, Borneo Post reported on Jan 15 that the Education Ministry and Kudat Marine Department intervened to provide the students with live jackets.

However, Khairul Abidin who had first raised his concerns on his Facebook page was quoted by The Vibes as saying that the life jackets made the boat more cramped than before.

The students, he said, needed a bigger boat. He added there was an alternative road but the fishing community cannot afford a motor vehicle.

“They are not my children but they are my neighbours’ children, my relatives’ children – I fear for their safety, seeing that this is happening every day," Khairul was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, the local Bengkoka assemblyperson Harun Durabi told Borneo Post that he was working on securing funding for a bigger boat.

Last week, images of SK Sibugal Besar students having to cross a river using a 300-metre dilapidated suspension bridge in Kampung Nealayan, Sandakan (photo, above), went viral on social media, with netizens expressing concern for the safety of the students.

After the public attention, the Public Works Department sent engineers to inspect the bridge and confirmed that it was unsafe, prompting its closure.

The local Sungai Manila assemblyperson Mokran Ingkat said the repairs were going on and he urged the students to use an alternative tarred road located 4km away. - Mkini