As we may very well know, the states of East Malaysia suffer tremendously from a lack of proper infrastructure. From the lack of internet access in certain areas of Sarawak, to the lack of roads and proper bridges for schoolchildren to use in Sabah.
Recently, a video circulating on social media showcased students from Sekolah Kebangsaan Nangkawangan in Nabawan, Sabah, having to cross a river via a pulley system consisting of rope and a bucket.
According to the Daily Express, a total of 27 pupils risk their lives daily crossing the river using a ‘zipline’ and ‘flying fox’ to go to school.
They are apparently waiting for funds to build the bridges that Deputy Works Minister and Pensiangan Member of Parliament Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup promised were coming.
Netizens were shocked
The video has been widely circulated on social media. Users were shocked that still to this day, conditions in Sabah have not improved and that a lack of infrastructure has led to this.
Lawyer Siti Kasim shared the video and said, “In this day and age, we still have kids going to school like this.”
SK Nangkawangan, School in Nabawan, Sabah – In this day and age, we still have kids going to school like this. pic.twitter.com/ue0Hjar8MM
— Siti Kasim (@sitikasim) April 27, 2022
“From Mahathir’s time until 2022 and even in Ismail Sabri’s time, we’re still far behind. It’s as if we’re still in the age of the Japanese invasion,” commented a user.
Calls for urgent action
Meanwhile, some users pointed out that the area is under the constituency of Pensiangan, which is ironically the constituency held by Deputy Minister of Works Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup.
Some users even tagged his Twitter account in an attempt to get his attention.
“Don’t you see?”
“Isn’t this your constituency… and the irony is that you are the Deputy Minister of Works and Public Amenities,” stated a user.
We hope that the bridges that Arthur promised gets built immediately to ensure the safety of the schoolchildren.
Watch the video below:
What do you think of this? Let us know in the comments.