DPM should allocate RM1 billion for earthquake relief and school repairs - Dr Jeff

KOTA KINABALU - “Unlike Malays which Tun Mahathir has described as “mudah lupa” or easily forgetful, Sabahans and Sarawakians are not forgetful. So, DPM Muhyiddin cum Minister of Education should come prepared with the RM1 billion allocation for school repairs for distribution together with with the earthquake relief aid while officiating the National Kamaatan celebrations this weekend,” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief, noting that the DPM will be officiating at the National Kamaatan in Ranau instead of PM Najib.

By a strange coincidence, the epicentre of the devastating earthquake happened to be 10 miles from the venue of the National Kamaatan.

The earthquake caused tragic loss of lives of both tourists and local mountain guides.   While the disaster relief teams were in the spotlight on national television carrying the victims, the real accolade should go to the mountain guides, known as “malim gunung” in the local dialect, who were the unsung heroes in bringing down the injured tourist climbers and the fatally wounded victims.

There were numerous reports of the bravery and courage of the mountain guides from the mountain climbers grateful for their rescue efforts including the carrying of injured climbers and trekking down to safety.    A guide from Kg. Kiau even lost his life but not before getting his climber to escape to safety while he laid there bleeding and mortally wounded and finally succumbing to his injuries.

Now that Mount Kinabalu will be closed for some time due to the damage, these guides will need financial assistance as their work will be suspended during the closure.

Unfortunately, there was a tragic loss of lives with a number of climbers and guides still reported missing.    Widespread damage including houses and buildings was also reported in Ranau district.

It is only appropriate that the DPM bring along and distribute earthquake relief.   There is no reason why relief aid cannot be provided if millions of ringgit and tons of new furniture, refrigerators and other items were provided for flood victims in Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan.   There were even new houses built for the flood victims in Kelantan and Terengganu. Even Petronas provided RM5 million cash aid and free Petronas vouchers for the victims there.

“Will Sabah earthquake victims and the mountain guides be getting aid” asked Dr. Jeffrey.

While in Ranau, the DPM as Minister of Education should be well aware that there are a number of schools that have been abandoned and not rebuilt and a large number schools in dilapidated condition and need urgent repairs.   The abandoned and not rebuilt schools include SMK Kundasang and SK Kemburoungoh.

As a friendly reminder to Muhyiddin in case he has forgotten, he had made a verbal promise in February 2014 that RM1 billion was being allocated to rebuild 600 dilapidated schools in Sabah and Sarawak.

As the DPM and it is not quite often for a DPM cum Education Minister to be visiting Ranau, it is only appropriate that Muhyiddin bring and distribute the RM1 billion allocation for the needy schools in Sabah particularly in Ranau.

The DPM should need no reminding as he has said that Sabah is BN’s “fixed deposit”.   However, he is reminded that as the DPM and a successor PM in waiting, he should not treat Sabah as a step-child, in the words of the Chief Minister of Sarawak, and avoid distributing the earthquake aid and the allocations for the school repairs.   It needs no further reminding that the Barisan Nasional needs the support of Sabah and Sarawak to remain in power.

However, on a more sombre note, it may be more appropriate for the National Kamaatan celebrations to be postponed or cancelled in view of the tragedy and continuing efforts in the search and rescue operations.