Wet adventure: Tourists at Tanini Kinabatangan preparing for a river cruise despite recent floods.
KOTA KINABALU: The Education Ministry has allocated RM63mil for schools badly affected by the recent floods in Sabah.
Sabah Education Department director Datuk Raisin Saidin said the allocation was to ensure that all schools reopen without a hitch on the first day of the new academic session on Feb 17.
“We will be able to carry out cleaning, minor repairs and replacing furniture that was damaged or destroyed in the floods,” he said after paying a courtesy call on Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Musa Aman at Istana Seri Kinabalu here.
“We have received an allocation for flood clean-up totalling about RM63mil for the affected schools and also schools that may be hit by floods again.
According to Raisin, more than 50 schools were affected by the floods that hit the state.
“Based on the information we have received, 57 were affected by the flood.
“We have 14 schools that are still affected by the floods in Beaufort as of Feb 12,” he said.
“Efforts to clean the schools where flooding has ended are underway,” he said, thanking the Education Ministry.
“The state government also helped by channelling appropriate aid to help the schools,” he added.
Efforts are being intensified to ensure the schools affected by floods in Beaufort will be ready before the month-long holiday ends on Sunday.
Raisin said several districts were flooded following intermittent heavy rain on Feb 10, with Beaufort among the worst hit.
Known as Sabah’s flood-prone district, Beaufort sits in a low-lying area intersected by Sungai Padas, making it highly susceptible to flooding, especially during heavy rainfall.
“We receive daily updates on flood conditions affecting schools. Some of the previously affected schools have recovered as floodwaters recede.
“Our priority now is to clean up these schools to ensure they are ready to reopen on Feb 17 for the 2025/2026 school session.”
Meanwhile, the State Disaster Management Committee Secretariat reported that as of 4pm yesterday, only 476 displaced residents from 144 families across five villages in Beaufort and Kinabatangan remained at four temporary relief centres.
The number has decreased following the closure of the relief centre in Membakut, allowing affected residents to return home.
Just a week ago, thousands were displaced after heavy rain submerged several districts.
According to the secretariat’s infographic, Beaufort has the highest number of displaced residents, with 302 people from 99 families seeking shelter at Dewan Bisaya and Dewan DSP Dun Banir relief centres.
In Kinabatangan, 174 people from 45 families were housed at the SK Sukau and SK Bukit Garam relief centres.
