Kota marudu: A total of 650 students of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Langkon here have been forced to squat at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Langkon since 2010 to continue their schooling.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Sabah Education, Science and Technology Minister Datuk James Ratib said this was due to the construction of SMK Langkon having been abandoned for 16 years. He noted that the situation, which has persisted for over a decade, has impacted both the facilities and the learning environment, hindering efforts to create a conducive educational atmosphere for students.

James stated that he had observed the situation at the school and emphasized the urgent need for attention and immediate action from all relevant parties. He stressed the importance of prioritizing education and ensuring that children in Langkon receive the same educational facilities as other students in the state.

He announced plans to bring the issue directly to Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek to seek solutions and appropriate follow-up actions to ensure that the project could continue and restart soon. He expressed hope that enhanced cooperation between state and federal governments could lead to a resolution in the interest of students, teachers, and the local community.