KOTA KINABALU: Teachers came to the rescue of about 20 primary school pupils who fell into the sea after a wooden jetty collapsed at Pulau Pababag in Sabah's east coast Semporna district.
A video of the incident went viral on social media, with teachers seen helping the SK Palabag pupils out of the water in the incident at around 7am on Monday (Jan 30).
According to Semporna Umno chairman Abdul Manan Indanan, the children were shaken by the incident but there were no reports of any injuries.
"I spoke to the Pababag village head who informed us that the incident occurred as the children were arriving for school," said Manan who is the community development officer for Sulabayan.
He said teachers there immediately assisted the children out of the water and put them into their boats.
He also noted that the tide was low and the water was at around knee-level.
Manan said he showed the viral video of the incident at a Sabah Umno meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Monday afternoon.
He said Zahid, who is Rural Development Minister, agreed to provide immediate funding to repair the jetty.