SFC acts swiftly after crocodile sighting near Kuching school

KUCHING (Oct 8): The Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) has taken prompt action following reports of a crocodile sighting near Sekolah Rendah Agama Datuk Haji Mohamad Mortadza Haji Daud, formerly known as Sekolah Rendah Agama Majlis Islam Sarawak No. 2 here.

In a Facebook post, SFC said controller of wildlife, Abang Arabi Abang Aimran, carried out an unscheduled visit to the newly opened school on Sunday to assess the situation firsthand and ensure that appropriate safety measures were in place.

According to SFC, the visit reflected the agency’s concern and proactive approach in safeguarding the welfare of the community, particularly the pupils and staff of the school.

During the inspection, SFC officers identified possible entry points for crocodiles and discussed safety measures with the school’s management.

SFC also expressed full support for the proposal to build a strong perimeter fence around the school to prevent wild animals from entering the compound, and urged for the project to be expedited to avoid any untoward incidents.

Immediate actions identified include reducing the crocodile population in nearby areas, putting up additional warning signs, promoting the use of Sarawak Croc Watch, and conducting awareness programmes under the ‘3M Buaya’ initiative — Mengenali, Memahami dan Memulihara (Recognise, Understand and Conserve) — at the school and in surrounding communities.

The school, located at Jalan FAC, was renamed Sekolah Rendah Agama Datuk Haji Mohamad Mortadza Haji Daud during its official launch by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg on Oct 3.