Sabtu, Mac 03, 2012

ALL THEY WANT IS A SCHOOL

All they want is a school

Despite decades of BN rule, there has been little development in the Penampang district.

KOTA KINABALU March 3, 2012: Upper Moyog, in the Penampang district which covers 466 sq km, has a 10,000-strong population and no secondary school. It’s Kadazandusun turf and has been a Barisan Nasional stronghold for decades.

The closest secondary school is St Michael, which is a RM3-bus ride (return trip) away from Upper Moyog.

According to Sabah STAR party’s central committee member Willybroad Missi, some 500 children from Upper Moyog travel to the secondary school each day and others whose parents cannot afford the ride stay home.

“Building a school for Upper Moyog should have been a priority for Penampang leaders since a long time ago, but for some reason it was overlooked.

“Just imagine: the nearest secondary school for them is St Michael’s Secondary School and the distance is putting a lot of strain on them.

“From Pogunon, the one-way bus fair is RM1.50, hence RM3 is spent daily on transport alone. This does not include other expenses for food and drinks.

“If this is tough, imagine what it is like for those staying in areas which are much further such as Babagon, Kivunut, Moyog and Togudon.

“Let’s remember that these students are from poor farming families,” said Missi

He said there was an urgent need for a school and a hostel to accommodate the children from remote villages.

“The school should be equipped with a proper hostel to cater to the needs of those students who come from remote areas like Kampung Terian.

“If necessary, I will personally lend a hand to help find a suitable site for such a secondary school, which, I feel, should ideally be located in Pogunon or Madsiang. ” he said.

No development

The MP for Penampang is Bernard Dompok. Dompok is also the president of Upko and a federal minister. The Moyog state constituency is represented by Donald Mojuntin.

Mojuntin is in his third term as state assemblyman and, according to Missi, has done nothing.

Missi took to task both Dompok and Mojuntin, who have been re-elected term-after-term to represent Penampang parliamentary and the Moyog state constituencies.

He said it is most likely that these leaders were not even aware of the needs in Upper Moyog or the other areas in the parliamentary constituency.

He added that it was ironical that Penampang, whose closest border is 10km from Kota Kinabalu, is seen as a suburban and progressive area when most of the remote villages in the district are still crying out for development.

“As the BN MP of Penampang and Upko (party) president, Dompok has failed to look into this pressing need of his constituency.

“He has had held so many important posts, but he has never got a single school built in Penampang.

“I also take to task Mojuntin for failing to look into the problem. He has served three terms, but what has he done for Upper Moyog?” asked Missi.

30 ulasan:

  1. Hopefully a Secondary School will be established in Upper Moyog so that the students who lived in that district can attend school more easily as it is not too far away.

    BalasPadam
    Balasan
    1. Education is very important in the development of a country. So there should be an easy access to school for our future generation to obtain all the knowledge they can have.

      Padam
    2. Agree with both, education is the key to developments, hopefully the school will be set up in that area for the student and parent's convenience.

      Padam
  2. As an MP, they should do their best to bring developments to the area so that the people can enjoy better facilities and infrastructure developments.

    BalasPadam
    Balasan
    1. It is the MP responsibility to bring development to the people. With the election just around the corner, all MPs better buck up their performance or else the people will no longer support them.

      Padam
  3. Pembangunan luar bandar jangan di lupakan, harap sekolah ini akan dapat di bina bagi kesenangan pelajar.

    BalasPadam
    Balasan
    1. banyak kawasan di moyog yang boleh di bangunkan.pemimpin harus peka dengan masalah rakyat.

      Padam
    2. Ya. mudah2an kerajaan lebih prihatin terhadap nasib anak2 disna dan membina sekolah di kawasan berdekatan.

      Padam
  4. Harap wakil rakyat di kawasan ini akan membantu penduduk agar mereka dapat menikmati pembangunan yang sama seperti di bandar.

    BalasPadam
    Balasan
    1. The people's representatives should voice out this matter to the relevant authorities so that the school can get approved.

      Padam
  5. pendidikan amat penting, jadi kerajaan kena pastikan semua rakyat mendapat pendidikan yang sepatutnya.

    BalasPadam
  6. Berikan pendidikan yang terbaik untuk para pelajar. Pembinaan sekolah baru ini sudah semestinya dapat membantu menyelesaikan anak-anak terpaksa bersekolah terlalu jauh.

    BalasPadam
    Balasan
    1. Mungkin juga kerajaan boleh menyediakan bas sekolah khas untuk anak2 di kawasan tu.

      Padam
  7. The future of the kids should be secured, please provide what is necessary to materialize their dreams.

    BalasPadam
    Balasan
    1. Education is the best way for them to improve their quality of life in the future.

      Padam
  8. Provisions made will bring a better way of life for those who live in Upper Moyog district.

    BalasPadam
  9. The government should look into the matter so that better facilities will be provided.

    BalasPadam
  10. I hope better schools will be built for the children in the rural areas at least for their convenience.

    BalasPadam
  11. Education in very important and should be considered inevitable, hopefully the government will ensure that the kids are given proper education.

    BalasPadam
  12. instead of build another school, why not suggest them to provide free hostels??

    BalasPadam
  13. if the only solution is to provide a new school, then all kampung in this state also should have it's own primary and secondary school..

    BalasPadam
  14. There are plans for three more secondary schools in Penampang and neighbouring Putatan districts, as well as four more primary schools in this district under the 10th Malaysia Plan.

    This was revealed by Penampang District Education Officer Dennis Gompion, who said the secondary schools are being planned for upper Moyog, in Kobusak and Petagas.

    Therefore, the MP and ADUN have to be proactive in urging for the schools building allocation. The sooner the better.

    BalasPadam
  15. The state education department should be given power on decision-making and the implementation of development projects, especially maintenance, training and recruitment of teachers.

    BalasPadam
    Balasan
    1. This will allow the department to manage their own allocations based on the concept ‘Let managers manage’ and son on, as mentioned by the State Education Director Datuk Dr Muhiddin Yusin

      Padam
    2. Currently the department is not empowered to manage any allocation for development even if it is for projects costing below RM500,000.

      Padam
    3. He said this is despite present regulations which state the department can decide on projects worth below RM500,000.

      Padam
    4. “This regulation has been stated in the Arahan Perbendaharaan (Treasury directive) more than 10 years ago,” he said.

      Padam
    5. He was commenting on the recent suggestion by State Assembly Speaker Datuk Seri Salleh Tun Said that the Sabah Education Department be given more power and autonomy.

      Padam
    6. According to Salleh, many school buildings in the Sabah are in need of repair and educational projects are not carried out systematically due to having to refer simple matters to Putrajaya, which jeopardises the Government efforts in developing education in Sabah.

      Padam
    7. Salleh acknowledged the capability of Muhiddin as head of the education department, in that he well versed in the context of local needs, hence felt it unnecessary, or alternatively, to minimise the requirement for local education officers to attend meetings held in Kuala Lumpur.

      Padam