Kota Kinabalu: Likas Assemblyman Tham Yun Fook disagrees with State Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk James Ratib’s preference for “dilapidated buildings” to describe affected school premises, instead of “dilapidated schools”.
Tham said it risked diverting attention from conditions that continued to affect students and teachers across Sabah.
Advertisement
“What the people see are damaged school buildings, unsafe electrical wiring, collapsing ceilings, deteriorating toilets and learning environments that may endanger students and teachers,” Tham said in a statement.
The Warisan Assembluman said where school buildings were damaged or unsafe, the issue warranted serious attention regardless of how it was classified.
“Changing the terminology will not alter the fact that many Sabah children are still forced to study in conditions that are inadequate and risky.”
Tham also expressed concern that discussions following incidents at affected schools had centred more on administrative framing than on addressing the underlying issues comprehensively.
He urged the Government to channel efforts toward measurable outcomes, including expediting repair works, upgrading school facilities, ensuring regular safety inspections and allocating sufficient funding for student welfare and safety.
“The safety of our children must never be compromised. Their lives and future are far more important than how we choose to describe the problem,” he said, adding all parties must move beyond semantics toward timely, transparent and lasting solutions.
“The people want action,” he said.
Earlier, James said the term “dilapidated school” was inaccurate as it refers to specific buildings within school compounds rather than entire schools.
He said some schools still have old wooden structures built in the 1980s, while also housing newer concrete buildings within the premises.
“There is no such thing as a dilapidated school; what is meant are dilapidated buildings. A school does not necessarily have all its buildings in poor condition.
James said the Government is gradually replacing wooden structures with concrete buildings to ensure the safety and comfort of students and school communities.
“We are requesting from the Federal Government is for these dilapidated buildings to be replaced. Not the whole school,” he said.
James also stressed the importance of education, science, technology and innovation in shaping the future of Sabah’s younger generation.
He described education as akin to planting seeds, where the results may not be immediately visible, but the knowledge imparted today will shape the future of children and the state.
He added that Sabah youths must be prepared to face the era of artificial intelligence (AI), digitalisation and automation with strong knowledge, skills and competitiveness, while ensuring cultural identity and heritage are preserved.
