MIRI: A total of 369 schools in the State that have been facing shortage of diesel supply can now breathe a sigh of relief, after the Education Ministry steps in, resolving the issues.
Deputy Minister of Education Teo Nie Ching when met on Friday morning at Miri Hospital, after visiting the Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Batu Bungan’s fire tragedy victim Nur Syuhada Azahari, 27, and family, disclosed that, based on information she received, those schools have all received the diesel supply since July 16.
“I think the situation is under control, so far since July 16, we (the Ministry) have not received any complaint on diesel shortage from those schools,” she said.
Teo welcomed schools to report directly to the Ministry (MoE) for their attention and further action to resolve the matter if they have not received the supply.
“We are not using Jepak holdings Sdn bhd anymore, a Bintulut-based main contractor to supply the diesel to schools,” she said.
Also present to accompany Teo in her visit to the Miri Hospital yesterday (Friday) were State Education Department director, Rokayah Madon; Miri Hospital director Jack Wong and Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak secretary and Pakatan Harapan Sarawak secretary Alan Ling.
Also present were Nur Syuhada’s sister, Afifah Azahri, Syuhada’s husband, Muhammad Rohaizad Abdul Rahim, 27, and Syuhada’s colleague, Mohd Shafiq Arisa, 28.
Shafiq when met later by the media described the July 25 (Wednesday) as ‘a very long day for them’.
“Prior to the incident, that morning, I was performing Wudu (Ablution), when suddenly I heard screaming and shouting,…unaware that the shouts were alert for fire,” he said. He immediately came out from his quarters and was shocked upon seeing the fire.
“When I arrived there (referring to the burning quarters, I heard they shouting ‘Teacher Catherine is still inside, she’s still inside,” he said.
Nur Syuhada and her husband got married about a month ago.
She is attached in SK Penghula Baya Mallang but was in SK Batu Bungan for a motivation camp when the incident happened.
Nur Syuhada is teaching three subjects namely Mathematics, Bahasa Melayu and a Physical Education teacher.
The horrific incident killed Nur Syuhada’s colleague, Catherine Janet Tiwi, 25.
The late Catherine was an English teacher at SK Penghulu Baya Mallang.
Teo’s 30 minute-visit to the SK Batu Bungan’s fire victim Nur Syhada Azahari, who suffered 25 per cent burn injuries, ended around 8.30am before she flew to Mulu, visiting the fire site.
During the visit, Teo also handed over financial aid to the family.
She disclosed, the government (PH) will do their best to take care of the SK’s Batu Bungan’s fire incident welfare.
“We’ll ensure that the victims received aid and taken care of,” she said.
On upgrading works of dilapidated schools, Teo said, under the new government (PH) they have been always looking for effective ways and approach to upgrade those schools.
“We have more than 10,000 schools (nationwide) that can be categorised as dilapidated schools and PH government is planning to upgrade those schools in stages,” she said.
