SK Kuala Muput senior assistant (student affairs) Sandin Entalang (right) goes through textbooks destroyed by recent floods. — Bernama photo
SIBU: Almost everything at SK Kuala Muput, Tatau was damaged by the recent flood.
When contacted yesterday, headmaster Tony Madup revealed the flood really hit the school hard.
“The wooden structures, classrooms, staff quarters, hostels, furniture, cabinets, mattresses, and so on were all damaged in the flood.
“This school was built in 1963 and this was the worst flood ever to strike it. Only the roof of the school was visible. This year alone, it was flooded three times – Jan 6, Jan 16 and Feb 6. In fact, the school is occasionally inundated as it is situated near Anap River,” he told The Borneo Post.
Tony said there is no electricity as the generator set was damaged after it was submerged by flood waters.
The school also depends on gravity feed for its water supply, but the pipe was damaged during the flood, he said.
He pointed out that nearly half of the rainwater tanks were swept away by the flood.
The school, accessible by timber road and river, has 16 teachers and seven support staff, while some 90 per cent of the school’s 112 pupils are boarders.
“On the first day of the flood, some of the children managed to return home. However, on the second day – we had to put up at a nearby longhouse and stayed there for three nights,” Tony said.
A large piece of wood which was swept onto the veranda by flood waters.
Damaged water tanks lie near a toilet block.
The condition inside a teachers’ quarters after the flood.
He added the school cannot reopen yet due to the extensive cleaning and repairs required.
Meanwhile, Assistant Minister of Native Laws and Customs Datuk John Sikie Tayai said SK Kuala Muput experienced total damage not only to its furniture but the buildings too.
“The Tatau district education officer will inform the state education director, who will decide what are the appropriate actions to take,” said Sikie, who is Kakus assemblyman.