Source: Canopy tents at SMK Sebuyau to temporarily replace unsafe multipurpose hall

SIBU (July 21): The canopy tents erected at SMK Sebuyau are to serve as a temporary replacement of the multipurpose hall that has been certified unsafe for use by the Public Works Department (JKR).

A source at the school told this to The Borneo Post today, in clarifying a post on Facebook by Sebuyau assemblyman Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi regarding the setting-up of the canopy tents.

“Weekly usage includes school assembly, Yassin recitation, boarding student assembly/roll call at 3pm and 6pm, and co-curricular activities,” said the source.

Julaihi, who is also Minister of Utility and Telecommunication, had stated that students and teachers at SMK Sebuyau would have to carry out their activities under canopy tents since many of the school’s buildings and the hall were unsafe for use.

“SMK Sebuyau is one of the dilapidated schools in Sarawak. We are waiting for the new school to be built on a new site that has been readied for a long time in the new township of Sebuyau.

“I have spoken many times about the condition of this school which is dilapidated but still accommodates almost a thousand students.

“It is a pity to see the teachers and students having to use this kind of facility compared to their friends in other schools who have much better facilities,” Julaihi said in the post, following a visit to the school on Saturday.

He said he had approved funds to install the canopy tents for temporary use while waiting for the completion of the new school to house SMK Sebuyau.

Meanwhile, it was learned that the Ministry of Education plans to put out an advertisement early next month for tender purposes, with the Letter of Acceptance expected to be issued in early November.

The notice of change was approved in June this year, with the latest allocation of RM110 million.

The upgrading work includes full replacement construction of 36 classrooms, hostel for 350 students, 12 teacher housing units, and other facilities at the school.

The project was approved under Rolling Plan 1 of the 11th Malaysia Plan, with Ministry of Education as the implementing agency.

Based on the ‘Seismic Disaster Zone Map of Malaysia for Disaster Management’ issued by the Department of Minerals and Geoscience Malaysia in March 2022, it was found that SMK Sebuyau is located in the Yellow Zone, which requires seismic design.

Therefore, the ministry had directed civil and structural consultants to submit an additional cost estimate for the implementation of seismic design, and to prepare structural drawings based on the requirements of the Department of Minerals and Geoscience Malaysia.

This is aimed at ensuring the safety of teachers and students in the event of an earthquake.

The increased costs for the seismic design have been submitted to the Economic Planning Unit of the Ministry of Economy for approval.