he aftermath of a thunderstorm on Thursday which resulted in a roof from SJK Chung Hua Stapok in Batu Kawa to be blown off.
KUCHING: After a roof from a Chinese primary school got blown away due to a thunderstorm, it got Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang to advise the people to think seriously about the environment.
Freak weather is part of people’s fault for their destruction of the environment, said Lo who went to visit SJK Chung Hua Stapok in Batu Kawa yesterday after a whole roof was blown off during a thunderstorm Thursday afternoon.
Costing about RM500,000 to rebuild and repair the damages caused, Lo said it was fortunate that the incident occurred after the school session ended as debris from the roof flew all over the school site.
He pointed out that human beings are partially to be blamed for not caring about the environment enough thus, the frequent occurrence of freak weather.
Lo also cited examples of global climate change from water level increase to intense heat waves and extreme weather changes.
“We should not take for granted what nature has given to us and it is our duty to protect our environment,” he said.
In addition to that, a large tree was uprooted in the school compound and part of a garden shed’s roof was also damaged.
Lo called on contractors to sponsor the materials and do the repair job. He also believed that everyone will chip in and do their part to repair the damages.
As the constituency is under Batu Kawa, Lo said its assemblyman Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, who is away at the moment, will obtain the necessary funds to help out too.
Headmaster Jong Loo Poh said the three-storey building where the roof was blown off housed the music and computer room.
He said it used to be the teachers’ office and classrooms but after the construction of the new block, they used it for extra curriculum activities.
“It is unfortunate that the 40 computers were on the top floor and they were all destroyed.
“There was not enough time for us to move it by the time we got here on Thursday evening,” he said.
Jong said he had lodged a police report and forward a report to the education department on the damage caused by the storm.
SJK Chung Hua Stapok was constructed in 1946.
