College lecturers, students attend classes in discomfort at 1Borneo
KOTA KINABALU: Around 650 students and lecturers at Mahsa College in 1Borneo Hypermall have been attending classes amidst the unbearable heat and without air-conditioning since power supply for the air-conditioning at the hypermall was disconnected on July 11.
The college has shortened certain classes from two hours to 30 minutes, while a new circular issued yesterday allows students and staff to wear casual attire in view of the heat.
Its marketing manager, Nelson Chen, hoped that the issue on arrears due to Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) could be resolved as soon as possible so that the airconditioning could be restored for the sake of the lecturers and students.
Established in 2011, Mahsa College, Sabah campus is located on the lower ground floor of the hypermall. The college currently has about 600 students and 50 lecturers and staff. Classes at the college run from 9 am to 5 pm.
Chen said, around 400 students attend classes at the college everyday.
As the college pays its electricity bill to 1Borneo Management Corporation, its air-conditioning was also cut off when SESB disconnected the power supply to the hypermall.
“Although we have had no airconditioning since July 11, classes are still conducted as normal for the past eight days,” he said.
However, he said, lecturers and students had to bear the heat and be without air-conditioning during classes.
“At present, we are relying on stand fans for ventilation but it is still quite unpleasant,” he lamented.
Chen pointed out that having no air-conditioning might affect the college’s student intake in September if the issue remained unresolved.
“The first thing parents ask now when we do our roadshows is whether the air-conditioning has been restored in 1Borneo Hypermall. We had to explain to parents that this issue is only temporary,” Chen said.
Chen hoped that the matter could be amicably resolved as soon as possible so that the lecturers and students can attend classes in a comfortable environment.