KOTA KINABALU: The Education Ministry has allocated RM63 million for flood-affected schools in Sabah.

State education director Datuk Raisin Saidin said that the funds would ensure the smooth reopening of schools on the first day of the new term, on Feb 17.

"I would like to express my deepest appreciation and gratitude to the ministry for providing the necessary funds to clean up schools affected by the floods and replace damaged furniture, such as desks.

"We have received some RM63 million for flood clean-up efforts across all affected schools, including those that may face future flooding.

The Sabah Education Department is committed to ensuring that these schools can operate smoothly when the school term begins on Feb 17," said Raisin who was quoted in a statement by the Sabah Information Department.

He also added that more than 50 schools in Sabah had been affected by the recent floods.

"According to the data we have gathered since the floods struck Sabah, 57 schools have been impacted. As of yesterday, 14 schools in the Beaufort district remain flooded. Efforts to clean the schools where floodwaters have receded are currently in full swing," he said.

BINTULU (Feb 12): Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) has successfully cleaned 80 per cent of areas affected by the recent floods here as of 7pm on Tuesday.

BDA said their post-flood bulk waste clean-up operations targeted 45 residential and village areas. Out of these, 36 areas have been cleaned, two are still in progress, and seven are awaiting clearing.

Several parties have contributed their heavy machinery for the clean-up efforts, resulting in 1,298 truck trips to the Segan disposal site.

For disease control, the authority has conducted fogging, larviciding, and disinfection at 13 locations. BDA thanked all agencies and volunteers involved. 

Separately, Bintulu MP Dato Sri Tiong King Sing said the volunteer clean-up efforts would conclude by the end of this week.

He urged residents to dispose of all waste at designated points or bins within the next few days.

“This not only makes it easier for volunteers to handle but also ensures that large vehicles like lorries can access the areas, as some residential streets may not accommodate them,” he explained.

Tiong added that this would prevent situations where volunteers clear an area, only for another mountain of rubbish to appear shortly after, stalling the progress of waste management.

After this week, he said any further waste disposal will be handled by the BDA waste collection service. “I hope everyone understands that the volunteer teams are contributing their time and effort on a voluntary basis.

“Even essential equipment such as lorries and excavators are either personally provided or coordinated by the volunteers themselves to enhance the efficiency of this clean-up operation,” said Tiong.

He acknowledged that cleaning up damaged furniture, rubbish, and waste from homes after the floods is no easy task.

Volunteer teams organised by the Progressive Democratic Party, Persatuan Persahabatan Zong Ho, and other volunteer groups have been actively assisting in cleaning various areas and transferring accumulated waste to a disposal site.

LA PAZ - Sekurang-kurangnya 24 maut dan ratusan penduduk kehilangan tempat tinggal susulan hujan lebat sehingga menyebabkan banjir di Bolivia dengan La Paz menjadi kawasan paling teruk terjejas.

Menurut media tempatan, di bandar Tipuani, utara La Paz, limpahan sungai akibat hujan lebat memaksa penduduk mencari perlindungan di sebuah gereja.

Perkhidmatan meteorologi Bolivia (Senamhi) mengeluarkan amaran jingga dari 7 hingga 22 Februari. Ini susulan kenaikan paras air sungai, termasuk Sungai Tipuani.

Timbalan Menteri Pertahanan Awam, Juan Carlos Calvimontes memaklumkan seorang masih hilang. Katanya, lapan daripada sembilan wilayah di negara itu turut terjejas akibat cuaca buruk tersebut.

Hujan dijangka berterusan sepanjang bulan ini dan berkemungkinan berlanjutan hingga awal Mac. - Awani

MIRI (Feb 12): The Miri Orthodox Buddhist Association yesterday handed over school items for the young flood victims of Kampung Piasau Utara yesterday.

This was the association’s third disaster relief operation.

A total of 58 secondary and primary students each received two sets of uniforms, two pairs of pants (for male students), one pair of shoes, and three pairs of socks.

According to the association’s chairman Master Shen Lin, the donation is meant to relieve the burden of the families of the flood victims as schools are reopening soon.

He clarified that the items were donated by local kind Samaritans and that the donations were made possible thanks to the good people of Miri.

“We are grateful for the donations from all the kind hearted men and women,” he said in a simple gesture when handing over the donations.