KOTA KINABALU: Another message over a Sabah student potentially missing out on competing at the National School Sports Council (MSSM) event in Johor has been making the rounds on social media since Friday (Aug 18).
This time, it apparently involves a female pupil in Sabah’s interior at Pagulungan in the Nabawan district, located some 195km south of the state capital.
This came after a football coach had, earlier this week, lamented that players and coaches for his Under-18 and Under-15 teams from the Keningau interior district were unable to compete in the national MSSM despite winning the state tournament due to a lack of funds from the Sabah Education Department.
In the latest post, an individual by the name of Lin Yee, claimed that the pupil from SK Babalitan was selected to represent the state Under-12 volleyball team at the MSSM, but was unable to go.
The individual did not name the girl but posted a photo of her travelling on a boat with another pupil.
She also indicated the student’s father was on the boat.
“She did not train for one or two days only and it is not easy for a student from the interior to get such an opportunity.
“I have done what I could but she was not sent (to the Johor MSSM). I am disappointed, what more the student herself.
“To be honest, the chosen kid is very good in both academics and sports. And this is her lifetime opportunity to get the highest certificate to apply for ‘sekolah berasrama penuh (full boarding school)'.
“They strive harder than those who live comfortably outside just so they (could) have a chance to change their lives,” the individual said.
Among those tagged in the post were Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor as well as the Sabah Youth and Sports Ministry.
The post has garnered over 800 emoji reactions and 1,000 shares.
“Where is the concern for our children in interior Sabah?” Lin Yee asked, adding that the school was located in Pagulungan Kecil near the Kalimantan border.
She added that access to the school was only through an off-road stretch and then by boat.
When contacted, Sabah Education director Raisin Saidin said he will check on the matter first before commenting.
On Friday, Sabah Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ellron Angin announced that the state government has agreed to provide a RM50,000 special allocation to send the Under-18 and Under-15 football teams from Keningau to the Johor MSSM scheduled for Aug 25 to 30.
Following the teams’ grouses that went viral on social media, Ellron said he tabled a proposal during the state Cabinet meeting on Thursday (Aug 17) for the special allocation and that it was unanimously approved.
“Although the MSSM tournament is not the ministry’s responsibility, as Sabahans and out of sportsmanship, we try to help because these teams might represent Sabah at a higher level like the Malaysia Games (Sukma), Asian Games or Olympics.
“I view this matter seriously. We can’t treat this lightly, we must help realise their dreams,” added Ellron, a former national sprinter.
