LANGKAWI: Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) colleges should not only be the best junior colleges in the country but also offer the best facilities, says Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.
The Mara chairman said this during a surprise visit to the Langkawi Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) here on Sunday (Nov 10).
Asyraf was shocked to find the facilities at the college in dire need of cleanliness and maintenance.
In a post on his social media accounts, he said he had visited the Langkawi MRSM without informing the principal and the college management about his intentions.
In the 4-minute, 44-second video clip, Asyraf said he had decided to visit the college after receiving numerous complaints from parents about the situation at the school.
He said among the complaints that he received included issues such as broken toilets, water supply problems, dirty food trays, and other matters affecting student welfare.
In the video, he was also seen approaching three students who told him that they were seeking medical attention after suffering diarrhoea.
When he asked if it was because of the food they ate at the school canteen, one of the students said no but said there were other students who had contracted diarrhoea after consuming the food at the school.
During the inspection, he also found a toilet door that collapsed when he touched it.
He also found that some of the toilets were not functional and the sinks were not working.
Asyraf also inspected the water storage tank and stated that the school management had approved special funding to ensure an uninterrupted water supply for the school.
He also reminds the principal and school management to always monitor the quality of the food for the students.
He took time to ask the students if there were any complaints about the school facilities and food quality.
He also approached the Langkawi MRSM students who are going to take SPM this year and set a target for them.
"I have asked the teachers,and they have set the target, they want Langkawi MRSM to be the top MRSM in the country.
"I put another expectation not only to be the top MRSM but among the top ten schools in the whole country for SPM," he said, adding that he expected all of them to get straight As in their SPM.
