He said the government was working hand-in-hand with other agencies such as the Armed Forces to reduce the burden of the people.
This was after over 1,000 students shifted today to a new school block in Telipok town in Tuaran district, 30 minutes north of here, with help from Royal Malaysian Navy personnel from the Eastern Fleet headquarters in Sepanggar.
Gone are the days when up to 62 pupils were housed in one classroom in the old block, which had been in operation since 1960.
“However, the project to build the new block was completed quickly despite some problems faced by the earlier developer which caused the project to be abandoned.
“The government is giving priority to the comfort and welfare of the people and with help from the navy, this shows that the government cares.”
Kapt Jailani Adnan, logistics chief of staff of the Eastern Fleet, said the event was the fleet’s first major-impact community project this year.
“Our role is national defence but during peacetime, we have a responsibility to help the community,” he said.
“Today, 105 officers and personnel as well as navy vehicles took part in the activity to help the students shift to the new block.
“This programme is not only taking place in Sabah but also in other parts of the country.”
SMK Pekan Telipok principal Awang Jaya Awang Damit said the school session in the new block will start tomorrow.
“We’d like thank the navy for the help. They were the first to offer help and we gladly accepted it,” he said.
“There was no major problem in the old block, but the building is too old and there was a wiring problem there.
“We hope the students and school will excel even more through guidance from the dedicated teachers.”
Sabah has given RM334 mil to Chinese schools, churches, temples since 2004