KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said 23 schools in six districts in Sabah are affected by Friday’s earthquake.
The service of experts will be used to determine if the buildings are safe for use before repair works begin, he added.
He said based on a report by the Sabah Education Department, the schools comprised 16 national primary schools, six national secondary schools and a Chinese-national type school in Ranau, Tuaran, Kota Belud, Penampang, Nabawan and Keningau.
In a statement here yesterday, Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister said damages were detected on the structure of school buildings, teachers’ quarter, roads and also the soil in the surrounding areas.
“The ministry is obtaining the advice of expert from the Forensic Unit of the Public Works Department to identify if the buildings are safe for use before action to repair them is made,” he said.
He said sufficient funds would be channeled immediately to the Sabah Education Department for repair so as not to disrupt the teaching and learning process at the schools concerned.
Muhyiddin said the Education Ministry was awaiting the full report from the Sabah Education Department on the damage.
“The ministry’s priority is to ensure the safety of students and teachers and the teaching and learning process will not be disrupted when schools re-open,” he said. — Bernama
If required, he said, the ministry would place students in schools affected by the earthquake to nearby schools so that their study would not be disrupted.
A moderate earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9 shook Ranau at 7.15am on Friday, with weak tremors felt until late last night.
The quake caused tremors in several areas including Tambunan, Tuaran, Kota Kinabalu and Kota Belud.
The Ranau police have confirmed two deaths due to the earthquake. — Bernama