Julaihi (second left), flanked by Brahim on his right and Kapitan Lau, being welcomed by a lion dance performance upon arrival at the Chinese New Year gathering.
SEBUYAU: About RM80 million has been approved for the construction of SMK Sebuyau’s new building to replace the old one, which is in a dilapidated condition.
According to Assistant Minister for Rural Economy (Coastal Areas) and Fisheries Datuk Julaihi Narawi, the project – approved under the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) – is in the land surveying and acquisition stage.
It is said that SMK Sebuyau is in dire need of a new building not only because of the poor and unsafe condition of the old blocks, but also to address the congestion at the school which now houses about 1,000 students.
“SMK Sebuyau will have to move to a new site at the Sebuyau New Township, where a piece of land has been identified (for the project).
“The present condition of the school is not safe for the students; an environment that is not conducive to learning and teaching,” he told reporters at a Chinese New Year gathering here yesterday.
Julaihi, who is Sebuyau assemblyman, thanked the Ministry of Education for approving the project.
Adding on, he said a temporary building was being built at SMK Sebuyau using the Industrialised Building System (IBS) to house the students, while awaiting the project to reach completion.
According to him, the IBS construction is about 85 per cent completed.
“I hope that the contractor could speed it up, and the state Education Department to monitor the works and progress.”
With the completion of the IBS blocks, the school would have 12 classrooms.
“Currently, its five science laboratories have been turned into classrooms to accommodate the high number of students.
Meanwhile Julaihi, who is also Assistant Minister for Industrial Development (Investment and Promotion), highlighted the need to relocate the GiatMara as the present site was affected by erosion due to flooding and intrusion by saltwater from Batang Lupar.
He also said the centres to collect agricultural products and catch from the fishermen needed to be set up in coastal towns like Sebuyau.
“We are proposing for the setup of a mini collection centre here for agricultural products and catch from the fishermen. This is our strategy to develop the rural areas and we want Fama (Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority) to become a leading agency,” he said.
Julaihi also touched on the importance of having good coastal roads to develop rural towns and villages, adding that about 36 per cent of the total state’s population was living in and near the coastal areas.
Later, the assistant minister approved a RM10,000 grant for SJK Chung Hua Sebuyau.
The gathering also hosted Samarahan Resident Brahim Lumpu, Sebuyau Sub-District administrative officer Ajis Ahmad and local community leader Kapitan Lau Khin Seng.