STUDENTS and teachers at SMK Sebuyau can now breathe a sigh of relief, thanks to recent physical upgrades and improved facilities that aim to provide a more comfortable and conducive learning environment.
The school received contributions worth RM800,000, which went towards upgrading damaged classroom facilities and providing essential learning equipment such as desks, chairs, beds, mattresses, school bags, smart TVs, air conditioners, metal racks, solar-powered lights, and industrial wall fans, all benefiting nearly 1,000 students.
This was made possible by Malaysia LNG Sdn Bhd (MLNG), a subsidiary of Petroliam Nasional Bhd (PETRONAS), through its annual ‘PETRONAS Powering Knowledge: MLNG Bestari Outreach’ Programme, a corporate social impact (SI) initiative to revitalise dilapidated rural schools, giving them a new lease of life.
Growing up in a longhouse deep in Ulu Roban and experiencing firsthand the challenges of studying in rural schools, MLNG chief executive officer Mohamed Syazwan Abdullah @ Laga Jenggi understands deeply what it takes to inspire rural students to stay in school.
“For this project, our goal was to breathe new life into the school, as many of its facilities were previously in poor condition and barely usable.
“We’ve upgraded their hostels, classrooms and laboratories. We also provided them with new mattresses, beds, lockers and smart TV, which I think is very important for the schools.
“MLNG put a lot of effort into investing in schools, especially rural schools. Coming from Ulu Roban myself, where I grew up in a longhouse and attended rural primary and secondary schools, I understand the powerful impact that good school facilities can have on students. It’s one of the ways we hope to encourage them to keep coming to school.
“There are still areas in Sarawak with relatively high dropout rates, and we want to help change that. This is our way of investing in education, hand-in-hand with the local communities. What began in Bintulu has now expanded across Sarawak – including efforts in Sebuyau, Betong, Pusa, Mukah, Kapit, and more.
“Our focus is education that we see is more of an investment than anything else. I especially hope that students in rural schools, when they see someone like me who also came from a similar background, will be motivated to continue to stay in school and study hard.
“Hopefully they will have a much enriched life when they grow up. That’s the whole intention for us,” Laga said during an interview in conjunction with the outreach programme held at SMK Sebuyau recently.
Giving Rural Schools a New Lease of Life
Through the Bestari Outreach Programme, MLNG has been upgrading deteriorating school facilities across Sarawak and works closely with the Sarawak State Education Department.
According to Laga, the programme typically supports four to five schools annually, depending on the urgency of their needs.
Last year, four schools, both primary and secondary, were selected based on their critical condition.
Each school is evaluated prior to selection, with site assessments and discussions held with the Education Department to ensure appropriate recommendations are made.
In the case of SMK Sebuyau, Laga said it is the only secondary school in the Sebuyau district, accommodating over 900 students including 250 boarders, in which the dormitories were in dire need of repairs and additional space to meet the increasing demand.
“So, we decided to help them by fixing the dormitory and it could also be one of the ways to motivate them to stay in school,” he said.
According to Laga, the refurbishment works at SMK Sebuyau started in October last year and were completed in January this year.
Positive response to MLNG’s contribution
What sets MLNG’s programme apart is its speed and responsiveness. Laga said once a school is selected, works typically begin within months.
“When we say we’re going to do it, we’re going to get it done,” he said.
Laga added that the local communities, teachers, including elected representatives and district education offices, have shown strong support, helping to ensure smooth implementation.
For Aqmar Arrifin Senawi, a teacher and chief warden at SMK Sebuyau, the recent upgrades to the boys’ dormitory have brought immense relief to the teachers and students.
He thanked MLNG for improving the school facilities, which have created a more comfortable and conducive learning environment for students.
He also said the improved hostel facilities resulted in a significant increase in the number of boarders.
“Previously, we had fewer than 200 boarders. Now, the number has reached full capacity with 240 students.
“The upgrades came as a complete package with new beds, mattresses, fans which have made a huge difference in the students’ comfort.
“There’s also a dedicated reading room now, where students can organise their own group study sessions. It’s a big help,” he added.
Although there was no new construction, Aqmar said existing facilities such as the dormitory and the Form 5 classroom block underwent extensive refurbishment.
“MLNG didn’t just carry out repair works, they also enhanced the facilities.
“For the Form 5 block, MLNG provided Smart TVs for each classroom, replaced all the chairs and tables, and upgraded the computer lab with new computers and air-conditioning.
“These improvements have made a real difference, especially for the Form 5 students. With Smart TVs in every classroom, lessons are more engaging and effective. As a teacher, it’s now easier for me to show examples using tools like Google and YouTube,” he said.
Meanwhile, for Form 5 student Mohammad Noor Airil Ramli, the Smart TVs provided by MLNG have made learning more effective by enabling access to YouTube content, which helps deepen their understanding of the subjects.
“Before receiving the aid from Petronas, we faced many challenges in our learning environment – our classrooms were uncomfortable and often too hot.
“It was hard to concentrate due to the lack of adequate facilities. Now, learning is much more effective and conducive,” he shared.
For Loreyna Felicia Lawrence, the introduction of smart TVs has significantly enhanced her learning experience, inspiring her to study more diligently.
“We also received new desks and chairs to replace the old, broken, and vandalised ones. This has motivated me to study harder, and I hope other students will also take care of these new facilities and make the most of them.”
Preaching dreams to rural children
Other than providing physical works to school facilities, Laga said this outreach programme also serves as a platform to share his personal experience growing up in rural areas with the students.
Reflecting on his sharing session at SMK Tatau in Bintulu, Laga said his story resonated
with the students, inspiring them with the belief that children from rural backgrounds can also achieve success in the future.
“I try to be an example to the rural school students so that they will not be held back by where they come from or their social background.
“They (rural children) are not on par with those who grew up in the city but it doesn’t mean they don’t have the opportunity to excel and that’s the message I want to give.
“I’m lucky to have PETRONAS supporting me in preaching these dreams to the rural kids. I can’t say enough about how supportive Petronas has been in this area, especially in helping the rural communities,” he shared.
Moving forward, Laga said PETRONAS, through MLNG, remains committed to helping individuals pursue their dreams no matter their background.
