TAWAU: The Tawau River Widening Project Phase 1B, cancelled in 2018, will be implemented soon after receiving a special allocation from the Federal Government as a flood mitigation measure for the district.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Lo Su Fui said he has received assurance from Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof that the special allocation would be channelled for the project.
Lo hoped there would no longer be obstacles to implementing the project, including the installation of tidal gates also needed to prevent flooding, particularly during high tide as the gates would close automatically.
“We need tidal gates at four locations, namely Sungai Tawau, Sungai Apas, Sungai Tanjung Batu and Sungai Kinabutan and only then can we avoid flooding that comes with the tide,” he said.
As for the Tawau Flood Mitigation Project, he said he had been informed that it was now at the tender stage and was expected to be awarded by September at the latest.
Lo said flood barriers would be installed at SK Kuala Apas and SK Batu 22 to prevent floodwater from entering the school grounds given their location near river mouths.
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“For SK Kuala Apas, the application for the construction of a protective wall has been approved and related works will be carried out soon. This project is expected to reduce the risk of water entering classrooms and ensure that learning at the school is not disrupted,” he said
Lo, who is Tawau Member of Parliament, said this after officiating the SMK Balung Open Hall and the STPM 2025 Excellence Awards at SMK Balung, Sunday. It was officiated by State Education Director Datuk Raisin Saidin.
At the event, 65 top STPM 2025 students from Kolej Tingkatan Enam, SMK Kinabutan and SMK Balung received their awards.
He said 12 open halls with a combined cost of nearly RM20 million had been built in schools around Tawau in collaboration with the State Education Department.
He said the SMK Balung Open Hall was the largest open hall in Sabah and possibly the largest in Malaysia, capable of accommodating up to 2,000 people at a time.
He said efforts by the Tawau Parliament constituency to upgrade school facilities were not limited to hall construction, but included the provision of parking space and improvements to electricity and water supply.
He said other basic facilities were also being provided to create a more conducive learning environment for students and teachers.
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