School project halted by quake risk
Construc on of SMK Nabalu was stopped in 2014, two years into the project following a wri en advisory from the Mineral and Geo Science Department that the site is situated on top of a seismic fault line.
NABALU: Construction of SMK Nabalu was stopped in 2014, two years into the project following a written advisory from the Mineral and Geo Science Department that the site is situated on top of a seismic fault line.
Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau said there was a need for the reason of the project stoppage to be explained properly.
The discovery of the seismic fault line was an indicator that the site was not safe and following the 6.0 on the richter scale earthquake that hit Mount Kinabalu, which caused structural damage in the surrounding areas the Government had no choice but to stop the project.
He said everyone knew that he had been in the forefront of fighting for a secondary school to be built here but when told about the seismic fault line “we take stock because of safety first.”
Met at the Mukim Kinabalu Harvert Festival celebration here Saturday, he said that although the decision had cost the Government money, “we never stop in our struggle to make sure a secondary school will be built in the Nabalu Zone.”
Commenting on the announcement by Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahadzir Khalid that a new secondary school would be built at Kampung Giok also in Nabalu to replace the abandoned SMK Nabalu, he said the Education Ministry had drawn a guideline that among others the secondary school should be built near a primary school to better facilitate administration.
“We have identified the site near SK Giok in Kampung Giok ... this too took some time because we need to wait for the studies to be done by the Mineral and Geo Science Department.
“The result is now out and the proposed site is found to be safe,” said Tangau, who is Tuaran MP.
Tangau said the Government was currently processing the compensation for the 15 land owners of the proposed site.
“I want to give assurance that the Government honours the Land Ordinance, particularly those involving Native Customary Rights. So they should not be unduly worried,” he said.
Tangau hoped the people in Kampung Giok would give their full cooperation so that the project would proceed smoothly.
Mahdzir, in his maiden visit to the Tuaran parliamentary constituency on Friday, had said that his Ministry had identified a new site for the construction of a secondary school in Pekan Nabalu, here.
The school will be built on a 23-acre site in Kampung Giok and is expected to replace the SMK Pekan Nabalu project, which has been abandoned since 2014.
Also present at the event yesterday were Tangau’s wife Datin Dr Jaina Sintian and Kiulu assemblyman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.