Deadline looms over school promise
Posted on July 2, 2015, Thursday
Patience wearing thin over pledge to build secondary school by 2016 made during last year’s by-election
BALINGIAN:
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has only about a year
left to fulfill his promise of building a secondary school by the next
state election in 2016 made in a by-election campaign speech in March
last year.
Local community leaders Penghulu Wee Key Chuan, Kapitan Chang Kai Hun and Cr Ngu Lin Yong told the BAT V team yesterday after Muhyiddin made the promise the people had been looking forward to finally having a secondary school in the sub-district.
Muhyiddin , who is also the Education Minister, had said SMK Balingian was a top priority project and announced an allocation of RM60 million to build the school.
“I remember when he (Muhyiddin) announced the building for the school, he said by next election (2016), if there is still no school, he would have no face to come to Balingian again,” Ngu said.
Wee chipped in to say that the only indication that SMK Bailngian would be built he received was a letter from the Land and Survey Department stating that a 10ha piece of land along Balingian-Mukah Road about 4 km from the bazaar here had been identified as the site.
Meanwhile, Chang observed that Balingian had not benefitted from the opening of vast tracks of land for oil palm plantations in the nearby areas as those involved in the industry all went to Mukah the divisional headquarters to transact their business and buy their necessities.
He added that the reason was there were public amenities like banks or post office here as their operation had been centralised in Mukah .
“To be realistic, I don’t think we can get all the public amenities which had moved to Mukah back to Balingian again. Now, I believe the only project that may help boost Balingian economically is the building SMK Balingian.
“With a secondary school, those involved in oil palm industry may be willing to settle down here as they can send their children there. With these parents settling down here, there will be more economic development for Balingian,” said Chang.
He lamented that even the local youth were not willing to go back after finishing their secondary and tertiary education as there was no jobs for them here.
The Kapitan cited his four daughters as examples, saying he had to send them to Sibu for secondary education as there was no secondary school here and when they graduated they all refused to return home.
“I have been waiting for a secondary school since my daughters’ days and never saw one coming. Now I have become a grandfather myself. I hope I can see the school ready for my grandchildren,” said Chang, who now has two grandchildren.
He estimated that more than 100 youths from Balingian were studying in secondary schools in either Mukah or Sibu.
“Parents of all races are really desperate for a secondary school. For more than 20 years we have been waiting. Don’t let us wait any longer. This is the collective wish of the Balingian people,” said Chang.
Chang also noted that none of the wishes including the development of the Balingian sub-district put forward by the people during the by-election had been granted except for the rebuilding of Kampung Baru Bridge had been granted.
“The Kampung Baru Bridge is now under construction for which we are grateful. There are three other bridges to go in Kpg Suyong.
But you can go look around there is no development in Balingian. It is still as dead as it was before. We have yet to see anything being done to fulfill that wish of bringing development to Balingian (sub-district),” said Chang.
The site of SMK Balingian has been identified as indicated by the box marked as Peta A (circled) on the map.
Local community leaders Penghulu Wee Key Chuan, Kapitan Chang Kai Hun and Cr Ngu Lin Yong told the BAT V team yesterday after Muhyiddin made the promise the people had been looking forward to finally having a secondary school in the sub-district.
Muhyiddin , who is also the Education Minister, had said SMK Balingian was a top priority project and announced an allocation of RM60 million to build the school.
“I remember when he (Muhyiddin) announced the building for the school, he said by next election (2016), if there is still no school, he would have no face to come to Balingian again,” Ngu said.
Wee chipped in to say that the only indication that SMK Bailngian would be built he received was a letter from the Land and Survey Department stating that a 10ha piece of land along Balingian-Mukah Road about 4 km from the bazaar here had been identified as the site.
Meanwhile, Chang observed that Balingian had not benefitted from the opening of vast tracks of land for oil palm plantations in the nearby areas as those involved in the industry all went to Mukah the divisional headquarters to transact their business and buy their necessities.
He added that the reason was there were public amenities like banks or post office here as their operation had been centralised in Mukah .
The
new Kampung Baru Bridge under construction, the bridge beside is a
temporary bridge for the use of villagers at Kampung Baru as well as
other Melanau villages in the area.
(From left) Wee, Chang and Ngu meeting the BAT V team at a coffee shop at Balingian Bazaar.
“To be realistic, I don’t think we can get all the public amenities which had moved to Mukah back to Balingian again. Now, I believe the only project that may help boost Balingian economically is the building SMK Balingian.
“With a secondary school, those involved in oil palm industry may be willing to settle down here as they can send their children there. With these parents settling down here, there will be more economic development for Balingian,” said Chang.
He lamented that even the local youth were not willing to go back after finishing their secondary and tertiary education as there was no jobs for them here.
The Kapitan cited his four daughters as examples, saying he had to send them to Sibu for secondary education as there was no secondary school here and when they graduated they all refused to return home.
“I have been waiting for a secondary school since my daughters’ days and never saw one coming. Now I have become a grandfather myself. I hope I can see the school ready for my grandchildren,” said Chang, who now has two grandchildren.
He estimated that more than 100 youths from Balingian were studying in secondary schools in either Mukah or Sibu.
“Parents of all races are really desperate for a secondary school. For more than 20 years we have been waiting. Don’t let us wait any longer. This is the collective wish of the Balingian people,” said Chang.
Chang also noted that none of the wishes including the development of the Balingian sub-district put forward by the people during the by-election had been granted except for the rebuilding of Kampung Baru Bridge had been granted.
“The Kampung Baru Bridge is now under construction for which we are grateful. There are three other bridges to go in Kpg Suyong.
But you can go look around there is no development in Balingian. It is still as dead as it was before. We have yet to see anything being done to fulfill that wish of bringing development to Balingian (sub-district),” said Chang.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/07/02/deadline-looms-over-school-promise/#ixzz3ehsuFU00
My comments:
I
believe SMK Balingian will be another endless wait if the people are not pushing,
shrilling, screaming and demanding for the promises to be fulfilled. The moment the political thugs promised the
moment the promises were forgotten and lost in the air. It is the people who should keep the records to
push and demand for the promises to be fulfilled forcefully.
Never wait passively for the promises to be fulfilled or there will be a long wait like those who still don't have the water and electricity supply now after 52 years of joining the federation.
SIBU:
The Ibans of Pasai Siong are hoping that the government would fulfil
its promise of providing treated water and electricity supply that they
have been waiting for more than 40 years.