An allocation of RM400,000 has been approved to reconstruct a jetty that collapsed at Pulau Pababag, Semporna on Monday, said Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Zahid, who is also the rural and regional development minister, said he had instructed the ministry to contact the Semporna district office to carry out investigations and take immediate action.
“This is because the bridge is the usual route used for daily activities of residents, including sending children to their schools and a kindergarten in Pulau Pababag,” he said in a statement today.
“The ministry has handed the implementation order letter to the Semporna district office for the reconstruction of the bridge and jetty with an allocation of RM400,000.”
Zahid hopes for the construction of the bridge and jetty to be done swiftly to help at least 151 school students and 35 kindergarteners as well as villagers who were affected after the bridge collapsed.
He said he was on a visit to Pitas to check on the flood situation there when he was informed by the Semporna Umno division chief Abdul Manan Indanan of the collapsed jetty and bridge.
“I was told that there were 35 pupils and two teachers from nearby villages who were heading to SK Pababag at approximately 6.20am when the incident happened,” Zahid said.
The incident
On Monday, 25 schoolchildren and two teachers fell victim to yet another bridge collapse in the district.
It was reported that the incident occurred at about 6.45am when the victims, including two kindergarteners, were at a jetty at Kampung Pababag and caused them to fall into the sea.
Two students sustained minor injuries in the incident while the others escaped unharmed.
Following the incident, the Education Ministry said they will hold an engagement session with local authorities and other stakeholders in Semporna to have the bridge and jetty infrastructures there improved safety-wise.
“The Education Ministry through the Semporna District Education Office is investigating to establish the cause of the incident and we have extended immediate assistance to all the victims.
“The ministry views this incident seriously and will ensure that safety aspects are improved by making it compulsory for them (students and teachers) to wear safety jackets and that jetty structures are safe to use.
“The ministry plans to hold an engagement session with stakeholders and local authorities soon to discuss improving the safety at the existing jetty so as to prevent such an incident from happening again,” it said. - Mkini
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