Another post goes viral over Sabah student unable to compete in MSSM

Another message circulating on social media claims that a female student from Sabah’s interior may miss out on competing at the National School Sports Council (MSSM) event in Johor. The student is reportedly from SK Babalitan in Sabah’s Pagulungan, located 195km south of the state capital.

The message follows an earlier complaint made by a football coach who stated that his teams from the Keningau interior district were unable to participate in the MSSM despite winning the state tournament due to a lack of funding from the Sabah Education Department.

In this recent post, a person identified as Lin Yee reveals that a pupil from SK Babalitan was selected to represent the state Under-12 volleyball team at the MSSM, but was unable to attend. The post includes a photo of the student traveling on a boat with another pupil, accompanied by her father.

“She did not train for one or two days only and it is not easy for a student from the interior to get such an opportunity,” Lin Yee wrote. “I have done what I could but she was not sent (to the Johor MSSM). I am disappointed, what more the student herself. To be honest, the chosen kid is very good in both academics and sports. And this is her lifetime opportunity to get the highest certificate to apply for ‘sekolah berasrama penuh (full boarding school).’ They strive harder than those who live comfortably outside just so they (could) have a chance to change their lives,” Lin Yee added.

The post has been shared over 1,000 times and has received over 800 reactions. Lin Yee tagged Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, as well as the Sabah Youth and Sports Ministry.

Lin Yee expressed concern for the children in the interior areas of Sabah and emphasized that SK Babalitan is situated in Pagulungan Kecil, near the Kalimantan border. She also mentioned that access to the school is via an off-road stretch and then by boat.

When contacted for a response, Sabah Education director Raisin Saidin stated that he will investigate the matter before commenting.

On Friday, Sabah Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ellron Angin announced that a special allocation of RM50,000 has been approved by the state government to send the Under-18 and Under-15 football teams from Keningau to the Johor MSSM, scheduled for Aug 25 to 30. Angin emphasized the importance of supporting the teams and helping them achieve their dreams of representing Sabah at higher-level competitions such as the Malaysia Games (Sukma), Asian Games, or Olympics.