On the brink: A view of the landslip at the school. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
LABIS: Students and teachers at SMK Bekok get anxious whenever it starts raining heavily as a landslip that occurred more than a year ago during major flooding has been getting worse.
It now poses a serious threat to the area’s only secondary school.
The school’s Parent-Teacher Association chairman Omar Ibrahim said the landslip was getting worse and caused at least 10m of soil to slide onto the school field located below.
“The landslip is reaching a covered car park for teachers. We are worried for everyone’s safety,” he said.
The landslip happened on March 1 last year when the surrounding area was flooded after a heavy rain.
Omar said thankfully no one was hurt in the incident, which occurred after floodwaters cut off access to the area.
He added that to date, many parties had visited the school but the problem remained unresolved after 16 months.
“We are worried that the landslip is still actively happening whenever it rains,” he said.
According to Omar, a handful of trees at the top of the site are helping to prevent the soil from eroding further.
The school, which is over 40 years old, has about 380 students – including more than 50 Orang Asli children – along with 35 teachers.
“Because of the landslip, the students who are located at the top will have to use the main road to access the school field below, as we are worried about their safety should they use the staircase – which has been affected by the landslip,” Omar said.
He said parents had regularly brought up their disappointment and concerns during meetings.
Meanwhile, Bekok assemblyman Tan Chong said he hoped that the Public Works Depart-ment (JKR) and the Education Department would come together to resolve the situation as soon as possible.
“This happened more than one year ago and I even raised this matter at the Johor state assembly several weeks back.
“I have been visiting the school since the incident and the slope is really getting from bad to worse, especially when it rains.
“I hope that the necessary funding will be allocated to stabilise the slope and for barriers to be put up to prevent further erosion,” he said.
A Johor Education Department official confirmed that it was aware of the problem and was working with JKR to resolve the matter, including getting the necessary budget to carry out repairs.
