SHAH ALAM: A memorandum will be submitted to the Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, proposing that the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination be postponed following worsening floods in the East Coast, says Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (pic).
The Bersatu Srikandi (women's wing) chief said SPM candidates in the states affected by the floods are currently facing a tough time including being displaced from their homes.
“I have watched all the videos spread on social media (on the flood situation). I believe it is hard to gather the SPM candidates as mentioned by Fadhlina.
“What should be considered is not just moving them around, but also their psychological state when facing a natural disaster. So we will propose a memorandum to postpone the examination following the flood situation,” she said in a press conference after the Bersatu annual general meeting held at the Ideal Convention Centre here on Sunday (Dec 1).
Earlier on Sunday, Rantau Panjang MP Datuk Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff urged the government to consider postponing SPM, claiming the move by the Education Ministry to proceed with the national examination for Form 5 students, which starts next week, was made without any consideration of the students affected by the floods.
On the same day, Fadhlina said the ministry will go ahead with the SPM Malay Language oral examination in all flood-affected states, including Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah, as scheduled from tomorrow (Dec 2) until Thursday (Dec 5), following advice from the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma).
According to Fadhlina, 5,377 SPM candidates have been identified to be affected by floods in three states: 3,111 candidates in Kelantan, 1,734 in Terengganu and 532 in Kedah.
She said all candidates impacted by the floods would be accommodated in hostels or moved to alternative examination centres to ensure they could sit for the exams comfortably and according to schedule.
At the same press conference, Bersatu Youth chief Muhammad Hilman Idham said that the Women, Youth, Srikandi Muda, and Associate wings will mobilise their representatives to assist in the relocation efforts for flood victims.
Muhammad Hilman said they would prioritise deployment to the northern states first, as the east coast states are currently facing a flood situation that is worsening.
"After that, we will head to the East Coast to assist affected victims and provide the necessary aid including post-flood assistance such as helping the people clean their homes,” he said, adding that the party is also raising funds for flood victims.
The floods in several states have worsened, with Pahang becoming the latest to be affected by the disaster.
The number of flood evacuees housed in temporary relief centres (PPS) nationwide has risen to 152,377 this morning, up from 146,611 on Saturday (Nov 30) night.
