Education office denies allegations on SMK Sundar

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The pile of new mattresses and other items for boarding students to be distributed after registration has been concluded at SMK Sundar.

The pile of new mattresses and other items for boarding students to be distributed after registration has been concluded at SMK Sundar.

(From left) Adenan, Zainuhani and Haliza.

(From left) Adenan, Zainuhani and Haliza.

LAWAS: Lawas District Education Office has dismissed as untrue and unfounded the allegations that students of SMK Sundar were issued with rotten and stained mattresses and old and torn textbooks.

Assistant district education Officer Adenan Ibrahim who issued this denial was referring to a report in The Borneo Post yesterday quoting Ba Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian as saying that that parents who sent their children to the school were heartbroken to see the appalling conditions of the school.

Baru also produced pictures which he said were sent to him by a parent of one the school’s students, showing old and torn textbooks and torn and dirty mattresses dumped in a heap in the dormitory.

“What was reported was untrue and the issue was deliberately ‘viralled’ by irresponsible quarters. We have seen and confirmed that all the boarding students were given new mattresses and old pillows were replaced,” he said.

He said the pictures were old and the issue was recycled by certain quarters.

Adenan said he had been briefed by the school that boarding facilities, including mattresses and pillows, had been sufficiently provided and replaced.

However, he conceded that there was a possibility that the items were held back by the teacher in charge for verification and recording.

Adenan appealed to parents or anyone not satisfied with the situation to contact the District Education Office or the school for a more accurate explanation instead of making accusations without verification.

Meanwhile, PBB Sundar Zone youth leader councillor Zainuhani Zainudin slammed Baru for making unfounded allegations and giving the impression that the school and its Parent-Teacher Association had neglected the welfare of the school’s boarders.

He made this comment after a meeting with Adenan, the school’s principal Omar Sidek Murad and his deputy Haliza Matali.

Concurring with Zainuhani, PBB state exco member Abu Baharin Redzuan said the PKR leader was raising the issue for political mileage in view of the coming state election.

He advised Baru to get his facts right before issuing any statement.

“This is more about casting negative aspersion on the school authorities and the BN government like what the opposition in Peninsular Malaysia usually does,” he said.