17 schools closed in Sabah
Seventeen schools in Sabah were forced to close yesterday as the state’s flood situation worsened.
Ten primary and three secondary schools closed their doors in Beaufort, while two primary schools were shuttered in Papar.
Sabah Education director Datuk Maimunah Suhaibul said 3,073 students and 372 teachers had been affected.
The affected schools in Beaufort are SK Pekan Membakut, SK Sinoko, SK Kampung Bambangan, SK Lembah Poring, SK Jabang, SK Lago, SK Tamalang, SK Kampung Brunei, SK Bangkalalak, SMK Membakut, SMK Membakut 2 and SM St Patrick.
Schools ordered closed in Papar are SK Sumbiling and SK Ulu Lumagar.
All schools, except for SM St Patrick, could not operate as their compounds and roads leading to their premises were flooded.
SM St Patrick was closed as it is being used as a relief centre.
At 12.30pm yesterday, 427 villagers were taking shelter at the school, while 128 people were housed at the Membakut multipurpose hall.
Twenty-five villages and neighbourhoods are flooded.
They are Jambatan Baru, Kapas, Kayai, Limadang, Brunei, Lampijas, Dungau, Bambangan, Sinoko, Pusak, Lumantak, Baitam, Pekan Membakut, Ulu Mawao, Poring, Baru, Takapan, Bingkulas, Membakut Jaya, Taman Emas, Bandau, Sungai Damit, Biau, Taman Desa Jaya and Limpayau.
Sabah Fire and Rescue Department said Sungai Membakut had reached its danger level of 6.98m.
In Pahang, state Education Department director Shafruddin Ali Hussin said six primary schools in Kemaman were closed yesterday.
Shafruddin said four schools — SK Pasir Gajah, SK Padang Kubu, SK RKT Tayor and SK Seberang Tayor — were cut off after access roads were submerged in flood waters.
SK Pusat Kemaman was flooded, while SK Bukit Mentok was being used to house flood victims.
Pahang Education director Dr Tajuddin Mohd Yunus said 15 schools were closed in Kuantan and Jerantut, while four were shut in Temerloh.
He said three schools were closed in Lipis, two each in Pekan and Maran and one in Bera.
In Kelantan, five schools that were closed due to flooding on Tuesday were reopened yesterday.
Kelantan Education director Zahari Othman said the schools resumed operations after floodwaters in access roads to the schools subsided overnight.
However, he said, another school in Kuala Krai remained closed, forcing 168 pupils to miss classes for another day.
“SK Pasir Kelang’s 168 pupils and 20 teachers have not been able to get to the flooded school since Monday,” he said.