KUCHING, March 11: DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) Sarawak publicity secretary Abdul Aziz Isa today revealed that a school block at SK Jalan Haji Baki being used by pupils has no occupation permit (OP).
Aziz related SK Jalan Haji Baki was built 50 years ago in 1969, and on March 12, 2016, then Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak promised to build a new school block for the school.
However, instead of building a new school (block), the then Barisan Nasional (BN) federal government approved a new building using industrialised-building system (IBS).
The RM2.93 million project — which comprised seven classrooms, a laboratory, a store and a toilet — was awarded to a West Malaysian contractor.
“Now, the newly completed building, which was built based on IBS, is facing several defects. There is leakage on the ceiling as well as cracks on the wall structure.
“Although the project has been audited by the National Audit Department, it has yet to receive an occupational permit (OP) by the Planning and Development Division (Building Section) under Padawan Municipal Council (PMC),” said Abdul Aziz in a statement today.
He said in 2016, the school had 340 pupils, but it had since increased to 430 this year.
“With limited space and the increasing number of pupils every year, the school has no choice but to use the new building without OP.
“Using the new building without OP will risk the lives of both the pupils and teachers. The safety of the pupils and teachers should not be compromised,” said Abdul Aziz, who is also DAP Batu Kitang branch chairman.
He, thus, wondered why PMC did not raise the issue since it refused to issue the OP.
“If the new IBS building for SK Jalan Haji Baki has yet to receive OP, why did no PMC councillors raised this issue?”
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Chong Chieng Jen has donated RM5,000 to the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of SK Jalan Haji Baki.
The grant was handed over to headmaster Mohd Aliff Najmi Abdullah by Abdul Aziz, who is also a special assistant to Chong. — DayakDaily
