EIGHT SCHOOLS IN MALAYSIAN STATE TO REMAIN CLOSED DUE TO FLOODS

TUMPAT (Malaysia), Jan 3 (Bernama) -- Floods in Kelantan, an east coast
state in Peninsular Malaysia, has forced eight schools to remain closed
although the 2011 school session starts Monday.

Kelantan Education Department director Hussain Awang said five schools in
Rantau Panjang, two in Tumpat and one in Gua Musang were affected and remained
submerged in flood waters while roads leading to the schools were also flooded.

"The decision was made after visiting the affected areas," he told Bernama
here Sunday.

He said schools affected in Rantau Panjang were Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan
(SMK) Rantau Panjang; Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Rantau Panjang; SK Sri Rantau
Panjang I; Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan (SRJKC) Kay Boon and SK Lubok Setol.

In Tumpat, SK Bendang Pak Yong and SK Simpangan were affected while SK Bihai
in Gua Musang, an Orang Asli school suffered a similar fate.

SK Bihai was also damaged by a land slide while a wooden bridge leading to
the school was also damaged due to the landslide, he said.

"School heads have been given the responsibility to decide on when to reopen
their respective schools and schools damaged by the flood or landslide will be
repaired once the conditions improve," he said.

-- BERNAMA