KOTA KINABALU: In Sabah’s quiet eastern district of Beluran, the pupils of SK Balaban Jaya begin their school day not in classrooms, but under tents without walls and along the corridors of a mosque.
Their laughter and lessons are carried by the breeze, sometimes interrupted by rain splashing or the scorching heat.
Parents have voiced their concern and are pleading for quick temporary measures.
The primary school’s problem has been highlighted by Likas assemblyman Tham Yun Fook.
He said the Education Ministry has allocated RM2mil for the construction of a permanent school building but it is unlikely to happen any time soon as tender and construction processes could take months or even a year before completion.
For these children, a year is far too long, he said.
“We cannot allow our children to continue learning in such conditions,” said Tham, a former senior state educationist who transitioned into politics last year.
He urged the Education Ministry and the Sabah Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry to act swiftly by providing cabin-type classrooms as a temporary solution.
The urgent appeal was not just about infrastructure, but about dignity and fairness, he explained.
Tham described it as a heartbreaking sight to see children studying in makeshift shelters, exposed to rain and heat.
“Tears welled in my eyes seeing the children in such conditions.
“Imagine if it were your own children. How would you feel?” he said, urging officials to visit the school to get a firsthand look of the situation.
