Sabah Students Sit In Cramped Boat Without Lifejackets To Get To School, Netizens Think It’s Dangerous
They had no choice but to make the issue viral since no action has been taken for more than a year.
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Malaysians were angry when primary school students in Kampung Nelayan, Sandakan, Sabah had to traverse a rickety bridge daily to get to school.
The bridge is made flimsily out of wood planks and wires and it looked like it was about to give way anytime.
The images showing the students of Sekolah Kebangsaan Sibuga Besar standing precariously on the bridge worried many netizens too.
Sadly, some Malaysian students in East Malaysia still have to put up with dangerous ways to get to school.
Recently, a Twitter user shared images of students from Kampung Pituru and Timbang Taun in Sabah cramped together in a small boat in order to get to school.
It’s believed the students of Sekolah Kebangsaan Mangkapon Pitas had to travel in a boat without proper safety equipment such as life jackets for more than a year.
Since no action has been taken, they felt that they had no choice but to make the issue viral online.
MURID MURID KG.PITURU DAN TIMBANG TAUN DALAM 1BOT MENUJU KE SEKOLAH SK.MANGKAPON.PITAS N2.BENGKOKA.PITAS
— PENYAMUN BERTARAF ANTARABANGSA (ko hado??) (@PiaPinah_MH) January 14, 2022
Kepada pihak yang berwajib,mereka tiada pilihan lain terpaksa kasi viral kes ini kerana Sudah lebih setahun namun tiada tindakan..
Sumber: FB a korn korn pic.twitter.com/RddVQyL0z0
Netizens voiced their disappointment to find that the safety of students is blatantly ignored in this day and age.
It’s also disheartening that they had to make an issue go viral before it gets any attention from the relevant authorities.
Suda 2022…..tetap JAUH KETINGGALAN….kesian.bersabarlah kamu wahai sabahan
— Akatsuki (@Akatsuk15930990) January 16, 2022
Again, OP relying on the power of virality. The sad state we’re in, if it is not viral it does not exist? I can’t imagine how many other struggling children are waiting for their stories to go viral in order to get some help. The help that they properly deserve. https://t.co/46rKjP2soL
— Ayu Musa (@ayuscure) January 18, 2022
Some of them expressed shock that the students weren’t given lifejackets and that the boat reached overcapacity.
Omggg!!! No life jacket??? 😭
— 지티 (@ctkhadijahlutfi) January 17, 2022
Overcapacity, it’s dangerous!
— Faiq Amiril Zaqwan 🇯🇵🇲🇾🇮🇩🇵🇸 (@AmirilFaiq) January 17, 2022
A few of them hoped that the government or any non-governmental organisations can help donate a larger boat or two and life jackets for the students to use.
Mohon perhatian kepada mana mana pihak kerajaan & NGO bantu sumbangkan Bot yang lebih besar dan jaket keselamatan.
— PENYAMUN BERTARAF ANTARABANGSA (ko hado??) (@PiaPinah_MH) January 14, 2022
@IsmailSabri60 bro, nak pujian tak? ni bagi bot dalam 5 buah pastu bagi life jacket dan gajikan pemandu bot bagi epf socso sekali ka ye. jangan jadi babi tamak duit cukai semua ko buat beli vellfire sorang dua tiga bijik pastu rumah mewah. ko ingat rakyat halalkan ke anat?!
— #SayaJualVCO (@FarahRose94) January 18, 2022
This issue has also made netizens point out that the Education Ministry should look into this as well while also trying to help Rohingya children get the education they need too.
While you’re focusing too much on Rohingya’s children not getting any proper education, please be more concern on this too @KemPendidikan. They’re the generation that will lead Malaysia in future. They’re our future. They’re Malaysians.
— Hello hello (@aainaawaaqiah) January 18, 2022
Cc: @IsmailSabri60 @anwaribrahim https://t.co/oygK9Mrs9S
Securing funds for bigger boats
According to Malay Mail, the Deputy Rural Minister for Sabah Harun Durabi is working to secure funds to get bigger boats and lifejackets for the school children who use boats to get to school.
I will have to get the exact number of school children for the safety jackets. I will visit them soon.
Deputy Rural Minister for Sabah Harun Durabi
Harun added that the river plays an integral role in connecting the rural communities in Pitas to the outside world since many of the villages are unreachable by road.
Hopefully, the funds and help come in time before anything regrettable happens to the students.
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