MUKAH: Kampung Tellian residents here are looking forward to a better year ahead with the expected completion of the SK Tellian redevelopment project by the end of this year.
After the old school was declared unsafe for occupation 14 years ago resulting in the school students to move to temporary classrooms at SK Mukah, the issue has become one of the hottest local issues for any election for more than a decade.
Now the present site of the redevelopment project is just across the road opposite the old school building.
In revealing this good news on Sunday night Tellian state assemblyman Yussibnosh Balo, said that the project would definitely be a wonderful gift for them as he himself hails from the village.
“It has been a 14-year long wait for the villagers since the old school was declared unsafe for occupation then. It is finally a relief for all of us. And just for information, letters after letters were sent to the relevant ministry asking for the development of this educational project, and thank God it was finally approved, implemented and scheduled for completion by the end of this year,” Yussibnosh said when addressing a big crowd at the Mukah Appreciation Event 2019 Sunday.
Those attending comprised members of Kampung Tellian Tengah Village Development and Security Committee (JKKKTT), Area Neigbourhood Watch Committee (KRTTT) Zone 1 & 2, Volunteer Patrol Scheme (SRS), Heritage and Cultural Group of Kpg Tellian (KWBT) and officials from the National Unity and Integration Department(JPNIN) .The SK Tellian project which is a total replacement of the ailing school is believed to be costing around RM19 million.
Since the old school building was declared unsafe for occupation, its occupants were forced to move to the temporary classrooms or squatted at SK Mukah located about five kilometres away from the site until now.
Subsequently parents of the pupils of that school had to travel extra distance and definitely spend more for transporting their children to the school.
Besides the school, Yussibnosh also disclosed that another mega project for the area, namely Mukah new airport, would also be completed as scheduled.
Stressing on his constituency which is made up of over 80 longhouses and 10 main villages plus Mukah Town itself, he said the locals should not just become bystanders of the development taking place in the area but they must participate actively in it.
“It is hoped that the local populace in our area would grab whatever opportunity created by the development projects taking place in the area for self development, family and the community at large,” he added.
On SRS, he praised the village’s KRT for forming it which saw a routine night patrol being held to safeguard Kampung Tellian Tengah since its inception.
“I was informed that throughout the nation there are 4,815 SRS teams with a total involvement of 192,600 people. The creation of this voluntary security watch unit for the village should be appreciated by all especially to safeguard the kampung from bad elements,” he said.
He, however, pointed out that in this modern society, these bad elements could also be invisible like on social media and others which could manipulate the minds and eventually be a threat to thesecurity of the area or state and even the nation.
At the event, the people’s representative also gave away certificates of appreciation to members of KRT, JKKK and KWBT. There were also prizes for the King and Queen of the night. Yussibnosh also obligingly rendered his favourite songs and joined the poco-poco and joget dances.
The entertaining occasion which also featured lucky draws and slide show on the activities organised was made merrier with the appearance of a Melanau singer Raymond Enyau who delivered several Melanau songs from his latest album.
Also present at the function were the organising chairman KK Juana Bonaventure Lupuih, SAO Dora Ramli who represented Mukah District Officer, JPNIN Mukah Officer Angela Lau Siew Yen, KRTTT Zone 1 Chairman Dira Pata, KRTTT Zone 2 chairman Mohd Harris Abdullah and SK Kpg Tellian Parent-Teacher Association chairman James Anthony.
