NABAWAN: Two specially chartered helicopters were provided by Pensiangan MP Arthur Joseph Kurup today to take teachers from the interior of Nabawan and around Talaan sub-district to SK Talaan and other schools.
Arthur, who is federal deputy works minister, said the flights were to fetch eight teachers before classes resume tomorrow, after the roads and rivers in the area could not be accessed due to the recent floods.
He said the journey to the area usually took three to six hours depending on the weather conditions.
“The recent unusual floods had damaged infrastructure such as connecting roads and bridges, forcing teachers to walk up to 18 hours to reach school.
“I also instructed the helicopter pilots not to return empty, but to ferry some patients who need emergency treatment in Keningau. After they arrive in Keningau, my officer will take them to the Keningau Hospital,” he said.
Nabawan is a district in the interior of Sabah with an area of 6,089 sq km located 17km south of Kota Kinabalu.
Regarding damage to a suspension bridge that leads to SK Nangkawangan and SK Layon, Arthur said repairs had been in progress over the past few days despite officials and workers facing constraints due to the festive period.
“It is expected that other repairs will follow in the near future. Despite facing the challenges and limitations, we will do our best to speed up all the necessary repair work,” he said.
The federal government had reportedly provided emergency provisions to several villages in Nabawan that were badly affected by the floods in March involving the reconstruction of bridges and maintenance of roads affected by the disaster.
Recent videos on social media showed schoolgoing children using rafts and a zip line to cross the river in Nabawan because the suspension bridge, which is the main route for students, teachers and villagers, was washed away in the flood. - FMT
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