Gaya Island to Have a New Education Complex

10 November 2025

KOTA KINABALU: Member of Parliament for Kota Kinabalu and Deputy Minister of Plantation and Commodities, Datuk Chan Foong Hin, has announced that the Federal Government has approved an allocation of RM260 million to upgrade schools on Gaya Island into a new integrated education complex.

Chan shared that the good news was conveyed by Deputy Minister of Education Wong Kah Woh, confirming that both Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Pulau Gaya and Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Pulau Gaya will undergo full upgrading works. Each school will be equipped with 36 new classrooms, alongside the construction of a multi-purpose hall and a sports field.

“These new facilities will allow students to study and develop in a safer and more conducive environment, without the need to rent or borrow sports fields in Kota Kinabalu for school activities,” Chan said.

Currently, most of the existing school buildings on Gaya Island have long been exposed to coastal erosion. In November 2022, SMK Pulau Gaya was struck by a severe storm that damaged parts of its roof and building structure. Fortunately, the affected classrooms had already been vacated and no injuries were reported.

“As the local representative, I wholeheartedly welcome this project. Once completed, students on Gaya Island will be able to enjoy safer and more comfortable learning facilities, free from the risks posed by storms or high tides,” Chan added.

He also expressed his deepest appreciation to Wong Kah Woh for making a special visit to the proposed construction site on Saturday, 8 November, accompanied by Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Liew Chin Tong, to assess the project’s location and planning.

Datuk Chan reaffirmed that under the MADANI Government, every Malaysian child whether in urban, rural, or remote areas, deserves access to quality and safe education.

“This allocation and the implementation of the project demonstrate the Federal Government’s strong commitment to improving education in Sabah, and reflect the importance of close cooperation between the federal and state governments,” he said.

“The MADANI Government will continue to ensure that students in Sabah enjoy equal access to educational facilities and opportunities, because in education, no one should be left behind.”