CM officiates handover of RM5 mln school hostel in Banggi

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Shafie signing a plaque marking the official launch of Petronas’ Asrama Harian Luar Bandar (AHLB) as Wan Zulkiflee (left), Yusof (second left) and Raiha (fourth left) look on.

KUDAT: The pupils of SK Balambangan Banggi will no longer have to endure long walks in the jungle or dangerous boat rides just to attend classes as they can now stay within the compounds of the school  – all thanks to the commendable effort taken by Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas).

The handing-over ceremony of the RM5 million hostel – dubbed as the Asrama Harian Luar Bandar (AHLB) – was officiated by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal here in Banggi Island yesterday – which also happens to be his first official visit to the remote island in Kudat.

“This is a corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme whereby Petronas had opted to provide us with financial assistance in the construction the RM5 million hostel which would accommodate 120 students,” Shafie told reporters.

He pointed out that Petronas had also assisted many of the other rural schools in Sabah in the past.

He applauded Petronas for taking the initiative to channel a portion of their wealth in CSR programmes.

The hostel will provide the pupils – who mainly come from three villages, namely Kampung Selamat, Kg Batu Sirih and Kg Kok Simpul – an ease of mind every morning they head to school as they now have a place to stay during the school week.

Previously, those from Kg Batu Sirih relied on boats as their main source of transportation while those from Kg Kok Simpul would have to trek through the jungle from as early as 5 am just to make it to class at 7 am.

At times, they even had to skip classes due to bad weather.

The hostel consists of two accommodation blocks, with 60 beds each for male and female pupils, as well as facilities such as a dining hall, a surau, and a warden’s office.

Among those present at the event were Petronas President and Group Chief Executive Officer Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin; Petronas Senior Vice President, Group Human Resource Management Datuk Raiha Azni Abd Rahman; State Education and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob; and the Ministry of Education’s Deputy Director of Student Affairs (School Management Division) Faridah Yang Razali.

“Petronas is committed in contributing to human capital development, and has supported a wide a range of initiatives in the state that had benefitted more than 6,000 Sabahan students since 2003.

“The completion of this facility exemplifies our support of the government’s efforts to improve access to education among Sabahan students,” said Wan Zulkiflee.

The AHLB is one of two education infrastructure projects announced by Petronas in Sabah to improve access to education and deliver sustainable impact to Sabahan students.

The other is the construction of a Maktab Rendah Sain MARA (MRSM) in collaboration with the Majlis Amanah Rakyat Malaysia (Mara), which will be able to accommodate 450 students and is expected to be completed in 2021.