By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Nov 9: Two secondary and 13 primary schools in Simunjan constituency need to be upgraded, the State Legislative Assembly heard today.
Simunjan assemblyman Awla Dris appealed for these schools to be given due attention in the RM81.9 million fund allocated in the State Budget 2019 to rebuild and upgrade dilapidated schools.
“Other than that, quarters and housing of teachers and school staff are also too old and in poor condition to live in. There are those who have no choice but to commute from Kuching city to Simunjan in order to fulfil their responsibilities in educating our children,” he said when debating the state budget.
“Moreover, there are also schools in Simunjan that are seriously lacking in facilities and equipment such as tables and chairs, writing board, teaching aid materials and playing field.”
On the proposed Simunjan New Township project, he urged the government to study the possibility of implementing the project as Simunjan town was getting more and more crowded. In addition, there are also erosion and narrow road issues.
“The township project is much needed by the people of Simunjan, with many having taken to the social media to air their grouses.
“Simunjan is not spared from soil erosion problems, such as the incident in Kampung Sageng Hilir that caused the road to be cut off since 2016.
“In this aspect, I hope the government can go down to the ground and see for themselves the current situation as the local community is worried that many houses as well as the Islamic cemetery had to be moved due to serious soil erosion,” he added.
Many villages in the area, he continued, needed protection barrier or floodwalls, such as those built in Kampung Simunjan Jaya, Kampung Tabuan Iban and a few villages in Rangawan zone area.
“The villages are often affected by flooding during the monsoon season. Thus, I hope the building of floodwalls or barrier can be done as soon as possible, considering that the monsoon season is just around the corner,” he said.
He also expressed gratitude to the state government for approving allocation amounting RM6 million for road widening in Kampung Nanas and RM10 million allocation for Simunjan riverbank protection project during the ‘CM Walkabout Project’ programme. — DayakDaily
