ULU PINANGAH, MALAYSIA - Dangerous it may be, but paddling a boat along the Sungai Kinabatangan to school is routine for four siblings.

Rosmery Saimon, 12, Madzlan, 10, Adzlan, nine, and seven-year-old Malisa paddle one-and-a-half kilometres to attend SK Pinangah on their own, because their parents have to work on the farm.

Smack in the middle of Sabah, Ulu Pinangah is inaccessible by road.

Traversing the longest river in the state on their 4.5m boat, made by their father from round wood, is the best option for them to get to school on time.

"We could walk through the jungle, but it would take us more than two hours. This only takes half-an-hour," said Rosmery.
Being the oldest, Rosmery steers the boat from the rear, while Madzlan paddles in front.

"I can't blame my father for not taking us to school, he has to work on the farm," Rosmery said. "But he does take us during the rainy season because the river gets choppy."