ENTERTAINED: Dr Jerip (second left), Ting (second right) and the others enjoying the concert.
KUCHING: The relevant authorities should immediately conduct assessment of the landslide near SK Beduan Bawah at Krokong, Bau.
Assistant Minister of Public Health Datuk Dr Jerip Susil said if the landslide was found to be potentially harmful to the primary school, emergency funds would have to be disbursed to save the school building and school structure.
“I think the appropriate authorities should take action which includes the JKR (Public Works Department) engineer in Bau and the district officer in Bau.
“Normally, if there is landslide and if found to be severe, then we go for emergency funds to be made available to ensure there is no further damage to whatever structure buildings that are nearby,” he said when met after officiating a kindergarten concert at a shopping mall here yesterday.
SK Beduan Bawah, located on a hilltop, is in constant danger of landslides with the latest one occurring last week at just 10 feet away from the classrooms.
The primary school serves children from villages such as Bijuray, Kaman, Pedaun Bawah, Pengkalan Tebang and Kapur, which are under the Bengoh state constituency of which Dr Jerip is the elected assemblyman.
According to Dr Jerip, the emergency fund available under State Development Office will be disbursed if the need is very urgent. JKR, members of Parliament and assemblymen also have the funds to assist if such situation is found to be not urgent, he added.
To a question, he concurred that it is not the end of the road for the affected school since options of assistance are readily available.
It was reported in thesundaypost that parents of SK Beduan Bawah are worried about the safety of their children while attending classes. Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) chairman Andrew Raseb said the land at the plateau is not stable and the hill is prone to landslides.
It was said the school was built in 1967 when the area was poorly connected by road and the only available site back then was the small plateau of the hill.
On a separate matter, Dr Jerip said kindergartens as pre-schools play an important role in the development of children.
He pointed out that kindergartens should emphasise on components such as problem-solving, learning skills, teamwork and ability to speak and understand many languages.
The concert was jointly organised by Tadika Permata Suria and Taska Permata Suria Montessori. Also present was the kindergarten’s principal Ting Wei Tzen.