187 schools in Johor to be used as PPS during floods

ISKANDAR PUTERI: A total of 187 schools throughout Johor will be turned into a temporary relief centre (PPS) in the event of floods during the ongoing northeast monsoon season.

State education, information and communication committee chairman Norliza Noh said the centres are located in Batu Pahat (73), Segamat (25), Kluang (22), Muar (16), Tangkak (15), Kota Tinggi (12), Mersing (seven), Pontian (six), Kulai (five), Johor Baru (four) and Pasir Gudang (two).

“Based on the disaster management meeting on Nov 9, chaired by Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, we have been told to be extra alert between December and January as floods are expected to occur during this period.

“We have also conducted three preparation meetings together with the state Education Department to streamline all flood preparations in primary and secondary schools,” she said during a press conference at Bangunan Sultan Ismail in Kota Iskandar yesterday.

Norliza added that with the SPM examination taking place from Dec 5 to March 7 next year, authorities would be holding Operasi Payung to make sure Form Five students are able to sit for their examination.

She said the operation would involve cooperation between the Malaysian Civil Defence Force and the army.

“The operation is to ferry the students from their houses to their schools if the roads have been cut off due to floods.

“We have done this during the previous flood in March at SMK Bandar Kota Tinggi and SMK Tun Habab,” she said, adding that the SPM examination would still continue and cancellation or postponement would usually be the last resort.

Norliza also said that the state government had requested agencies and schools involved to secure the textbooks, tables and chairs in a safer location.

She added that a total of 56 schools had been affected by the flood earlier this year, with the majority of the affected schools in Batu Pahat and Segamat.

“The state government has also allocated RM2.3mil for the post-flood maintenance in schools for the districts of Kulai, Kluang, Kota Tinggi, Mersing, Muar, Segamat, Batu Pahat and Tangkak.”