50 Orang Asli students had to walk to school for six hours in Kelantan
KOTA BAHRU: At least 50 Orang Asli students had to walk to school in Gua Musang for six hours after the vehicles taking them there got stuck in the mud.
As reported in a Malay daily, residents of the village around Pos Simpor failed to attend school on the first day of a new school session after only crossing the muddy road at 7.30pm.
The students are from the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Tengku Indera Petra 1 and the SMK Tengku Indera Petra 2 in Gua Musang town.
They were said to be out of the house at 7am in a five-wheel drive before going through a muddy path.
One of them, Jali Angah, 16, said he and his friend had to walk more than three kilometers to cross the muddy road.
Jali also said they had to wait for the four-wheel-drive vehicle that had been stuck in the muddy path as it had to be pulled over by another vehicle.
Meanwhile, Kelantan / Terengganu Aboriginal Development Department (JAKOA) director Hashim Alang Abdul Hamid when contacted confirmed the poor road conditions.
According to him, not only was the road linking Simpor Store to the city damaged but several other routes were facing the same problem.
“We also expect contractors appointed to bring Orang Asli students to the school to ensure their safety,” he said.
He also ordered several JAKOA Gua Musang officials to monitor the situation and provide food for them.
