Six-month delay in completion of Sibu Volleyball Stadium

Posted: 04 Jan 2014 08:12 AM PST

SIBU: Shortage of manpower has inadvertently caused another six-month delay in the completion of the RM10-million Sibu Prudential Volleyball Association Stadium at Rejang Park housing estate here.

Initially due for completion in Dec 2013, the stadium is now expected to be ready by June 30 this year.

Sibu Volleyball Association (SVA) President Dr William Ting Wei Ung could only wait patiently as he provided an update on the project.

Ting said the main portion that remained uncompleted was the laying of the high-tech rubberized flooring on the surface of the volleyball court.

"The laying of the high-tech rubberized flooring materials imported from Germany is in compliance with international standards and we want all our guests to know that our volleyball stadium is one of the best equipped and furnished in the country."

Only the fourth floor of the four-storey administrative block is awaiting final completion.

Ting reiterated that the stadium would eventually be a Sibu landmark and the people of Sibu ought to be proud for being part of it.

He recalled the tireless contribution of the top SVA leadership in sourcing funds and the venue for the stadium.

Prudential Assurance Malaysia Bhd (PAM) came into the picture when it pledged a contribution of RM3 million towards the cost of the stadium.

Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, speaking during the earth-breaking ceremony in 2011, also promised to play his part.

"Of course, there are still lots of enthusiastic volleyball supporters out there who had poured in their help in one way of another and, all the same, we are grateful to them for their immense contribution towards SVA," Ting added.

When fully completed, the 4-storey building, which includes the adminstrative block, a gym and a canteen, will be the country's only volleyball stadium with the state-of-the-art facilities with a seating capacity for 3,000 to 5,000 people.

SVA also plans to host major volleyball tournaments, including international competition, in the stadium to generate more interest in the game. It will also be the training ground for local players.

Ting said Sarawak's endeavour to push volleyball standards to greater heights was the envy of other states, so much so that the existing Rejang Park Volleyball Court was recently picked as a training ground for the national women's team who took part in the 2013 Myamnar SEA Games.

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School operations halted due to flood

Posted: 04 Jan 2014 07:47 AM PST

KUALA BELAIT: The Ministry of Education has ordered a temporary closure of Panaga Primary School in Seria, Kuala Belait due to recent flooding in the area, Brudirect reported.

According to the Ministry, the school in question is deemed unsafe for daily operations following a series of inspections performed by the Primary Education Section of the Department of Schools.

The inspection team has discovered that the school is befouled with an unpleasant stench of mud that has piled up around the school ground, especially the classrooms. In addition to this, clogged sewerage and drainages posed a biological threat to students' and teachers alike.

Despite the ongoing cleanup and repair operations, the Ministry of Education has stated that it may take some times before the school is restored to its normal operational form.

The Ministry prospectively plans to house students in newly built buildings of other schools. However, this plan is still subject to further discussions.

Due to the flooding incident, Year 1 students are not required to attend school throughout the temporary shutdown.

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