Inundated roads in central Perak cut access to schools

Hosing it down: Some 500 volunteers from the Terengganu Transformasi Baharu squad cleaning up school furniture to get them ready for the new school term at SMK Pangkal Meleret in Machang, Kelantan.

IPOH: Roads in central Perak remain inundated, with access to several schools there cut off.The water level is apparently waist deep.

This has raised concerns about the re-opening of the schools for the new term.

“As of now, we cannot use the road to the school,” said Jamaaddin Kamaluddin, the principal of SK Changkat Banjar in Parit.

The situation, he said, was dependent on the water level of Sungai Perak.

“If it is still overflowing, then we will have to wait until the water recedes to re-open the school.

“As it is, the water level at Sungai Perak remains high and is showing no signs of dropping,” he said when contacted.

The Education Ministry has stated that 41 schools in Perak, Kelantan and Pahang are still affected by floods.

Perak has the highest number of schools affected (19), followed by 18 in Pahang and four in Kelantan.

Affected schools in Kelantan will reopen on Jan 18 while those in Perak and Pahang will start on Jan 19.

Jamaaddin said he had written to the Education Department to allow the school to re-open once the floodwater receded.

“I have sought permission to re-open the school earlier on Jan 16 if the situation improves.

“The school is not badly affected but the surrounding areas are,” he said.

Other schools affected included SK Bandar, SK Bandar Tua, SK Pulau Tiga Kiri, SK Tok Pelita, SK Lambor Kanan, SK Tanjong Bidara, SK Pasir Panjang Ulu, SK Pulau Juar, SK Selat Pulau, SK Pasir Kubu, SMK Dato Maharajalela, SABK Ehyak Diniah and SMK Lambor Kiri.

Five other schools are being used as temporary relief centres – SMK Sultan Muzaffar Shah 1, SMK Sungai Ranggam, SK Teluk Kepayang, SK Kayan and SJKT Kayan.

SK Pulau Juar principal Zainal Abidin Abd Rahman said the road to the school in Kampung Gajah was also cut off because of the overflow from Sungai Perak.

“All of us are unable to reach the school. The water level on the road comes up to our waist. Vehicles are unable to pass through,” he said.

SK Tanjong Bidara headmistress Normala Bahtiar said her school was cleaned last week but a new round of downpour had caused the road leading to the school to be cut off.

“A few weeks ago, the floodwater receded slightly. The navy, the district council and the school staff were able to go to the school to clean it up.

“Since Friday, the water level began to rise again. This has cut off the road to the school. We are unable to get to the school to check on its condition,” she added.

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