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CSO Platform for Reform views with grave concern on the issue of ‘jalan putus’ leading towards SK Pangaraan, Nabawan.
As narrated in a recent Facebook post by Ms Zazila Roslan that went viral, heavy rains had damaged the road access to SK Pangaraan which caused the teachers and staff to endure an 18-hour walk on muddy roads to provide education to the pupils.

Zalila explained that the road was badly affected due to heavy rain on 5 March 2022. On the same day, three main bridges collapsed and several landslides happened along the route to SK Pangaraan. These damages disconnected Nabawan town to Kg. Pohon Batu and Kg. Pangaraan, effectively affecting villagers, school staff and children in these villages. On 6 April 2022, Zazila’s mother, Jusseh Agitor, one of the teachers together with the headmaster and staff of SK Pangaraan, decided to return to the school by foot because they were concerned that the students would be left behind in their studies. They began their 30km trip starting from Kg. Binanun to SK Pangaraan trudged through massively muddied roads and 3 rivers. They rested at another village to break their fast. Zazila added that the communities in the villages are also affected by this situation, not only for their transportation but for medical and food supplies access.

According to a front page article published by Daily Express on 9 April 2022, Nabawan District Officer (DO) stated that about 1,000 people were affected by this damage. Food aid had to be sent to the community by helicopter service. Accordingly, requests for emergency allocation have been made yet no promising response was received. The DO also explained that the request to uplift the situation will cost a lot of money.

As a platform for civil society organisations working on institutional reform, CSO Platform for Reform demands that the state and federal governments, and relevant authorities take immediate actions to address and remedy the long standing situation faced by the communities in Nabawan.
We urge the government of Malaysia and relevant authorities to act on the following:

1. The federal government, particularly the Senior Minister of Works, YB Dato' Sri Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof, to intervene in road and infrastructure development in Sabah, especially school accessibility in rural areas. With the spirit of Keluarga Malaysia, it is crucial to take immediate action to improve the poor road and infrastructure conditions in Sabah, which are badly damaged by the extreme weather and heavy machinery, to enable a proper and safe access for students and educators to go to school.

2. The Sabah Ministry of Works, particularly the Minister of Work, YB Datuk Seri Panglima Bung Moktar bin Radin, should step up and resolve road problems in Sabah. YB DSP Bung Moktar was reported as saying that Sabah needs a developed road network to improve the socioeconomic status of rural areas, and this is aligned with the education needs in Nabawan. He also made his statement clear that the Public Works Department (JKR) holds the responsibility to supervise roads in the state. This is only relevant if the JKR takes up responsibility to address all road works in Sabah to be taken immediately.

3. State government to standby helicopter transportation services for urgent and emergency cases. Air transportation is the best option for immediate assistance to isolated places. There are several villages that are difficult to reach when the road cannot be reached by ground transportation. Helicopter services will uplift the community in the matter of transportation and transferring assistance while the road is under construction.

4. Any groups, individuals, agencies and relevant authorities to assist in food aid for the villagers and school equipment for the students. Three villages are unable to go to the nearest town at Nabawan due to the collapsed bridges which disconnect the road to Nabawan. All assistance and aid during this Ramadan month will be more meaningful for the villagers in easing their hardships.

We note YB Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup, Member of Parliament for Pensiangan’s application submission for replacement bridges to be built as soon as possible, following the delivery of food aid and other necessities by helicopters to ensure sufficient food and basic supplies for the villagers are met. Sabah is now in her 59th year of independence and yet there are many unfulfilled promises to develop the basic infrastructure in Sabah. The state governments, since the formation of Malaysia in 1963, made their pledges to improve Sabah but communities and infrastructure development are still left behind.

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