KOTA TINGGI: Malaysian Armed Forces lorries are being used to transport students from SMK Tun Habab to their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2023 examination centre as the road leading to it is flooded.

Johor education, information, and communication committee chairman Norliza Noh said that the two roads leading to the school were inundated around Sunday morning (Jan 7) and could not be passed through by light vehicles.

“We have requested help from the Armed Forces to help 36 students be able to sit for their examination on time.

“The parents have been alerted on this matter, and they were requested to wait at two drop-off points, namely at Econsave Taman Daiman Jaya and Masjid Jamek Kota Tinggi.

“12 candidates were picked up from Econsave, and the remaining 24 were waiting at the mosque,” she said when met by The Star after conducting a food aid distribution to schools here on Monday (Jan 8).

Norliza added that besides SMK Tun Habab, one student and two exam invigilators from SMK Bandar Kota Tinggi were also picked up by truck due to similar conditions.

“The road can be passed by light vehicles, but we decided that we should be extra cautious,” she said, adding that all district education offices have been told to allow students and invigilators to come late to school if the areas are inundated with floods.

Norliza also said there were no absentees during the first day of the SPM exam, which involved the Bahasa Melayu Oral Test.

A total of 48,276 candidates will be sitting for the SPM exam from Jan 8 until March 7 in 364 examination centres, while 8,831 candidates will sit for the STPM exams from Jan 22 to Feb 6 at 75 examination centres in Johor.