AT least 26 schools in Sarawak are expected to be unable to commence operations on the first day of the new school term tomorrow after remaining affected by floods, the state’s Education Director Omar Mahli said.
He said inspections carried out today found that the affected schools were located in Daro, Selangau in Mukah, Sibu, Tatau and Sebauh in Bintulu. “The schools involved are SK Kg Pangtray, SK O.K. Selair and SJK (C) Chung Hua in Daro, as well as SK Nangga Selangau, SK Kuala Lemai, SK Ulu Sungai Arip and SK St Mark in Selangau,” he said.
He added that 19 other schools in Tatau and Sebauh were also affected. “These include SJK (C) Chung Hua Tatau, SJK (C) Chung San, SK Bukit Mawang, SK Hermanus Assan, SK Kuala Binyo, SK Kuala Kebulu, SK Kuala Muput, SK Kuala Sigu, SK Labang, SK Nanga Penyarai, SK Nanga Tau, SK Pandan, SK Rh Tayai, SK Sebauh, SK Sungai Bukit Balai, SK Sungai Genaan, SK Sungai Sebungan, SK Sungai Sengian and SK Sungai Bagian,” he said.
Omar said the schools were unable to operate as their compounds remained flooded and access roads to nearby residential areas and villages were still impassable.
He also said eight schools in Sarawak were currently being used as temporary evacuation centres, with seven located in Serian and one in Selangau.
In Sabah, five schools will also be unable to begin the 2026 school session, which starts on Monday, after being affected by floods that began on Jan 2.
Sabah Education Director Datuk Raisin Saidin said all the affected schools were located in Beaufort district. “The schools still affected by flooding are Sekolah Kebangsaan Bangkalalak, SK Garama, SK Jabang, SK Kebulu, SK Lago and SK Suasa,” he said, adding that schools in other districts were operating as usual.
Raisin said a total of 490,314 pupils and students would be starting the new school year in Sabah, comprising 276,144 primary school pupils and 214,170 secondary school students.
Meanwhile, the number of flood evacuees in Sarawak and Sabah continued to decline as of 4pm today, with 3,168 people still sheltering at temporary evacuation centres compared with 4,257 in the morning.
In Sarawak, the State Disaster Management Committee said 29 evacuation centres remained operational this afternoon, housing 2,802 evacuees from 864 families, down from 41 centres sheltering 3,890 people from 1,175 families earlier today. Eleven centres in Samarahan, Gedong, Siburan and Balai Ringin were closed as flood conditions improved.
However, the committee noted an increase in evacuee numbers at several locations, including SK Krusen in Serian, as well as Dewan Suarah and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sebauh in Bintulu.
In Sabah, the State Disaster Management Secretariat said the number of flood victims had edged down slightly to 366 people from 138 families as of 4pm, compared with 367 people from 137 families earlier in the day.
All evacuees in Beaufort district are being housed at two centres still in operation, with the Permanent Evacuation Centre at Dewan Slagon accommodating the highest number at 328 people from 123 families, while the remainder are staying at Dewan Sri Dayang Shahbandar in Padas Damit. - January 12, 2026
