RM1 billion to help Sabah repair, upgrade schools

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will be able to repair and upgrade rundown schools in the state within two years, thanks to the RM1 billion special allocation under the 2018 Budget.

State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, who is also in charge of state education, said there were many dilapidated schools in the state, some of which were built before independence.

“We are glad that the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Razak) announced a RM1 billion allocation to repair run-down school buildings in Sabah.

“Just a few days ago, I had a meeting with the Sabah Education Department to discuss how we could tackle this problem (dilapidated schools).

“We have already come up with several proposals, but we’re pleasantly surprised by the prime minister’s announcement, which will help solve the problem in two years,” he said at Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman’s official residence at Sri Gaya here yesterday.

Masidi said the allocation would boost the level of education in the state by improving the schools’ facilities.

“Our only hope is that the implementation of the allocation will be done properly and that the Education Ministry will ensure such a large allocation is not wasted,” he said.

The government allocated a slew of initiatives in this year’s budget amounting to RM6.5 billion for basic infrastructure in the rural areas.

The educational and income deficit faced by the indigenous peoples in the country would be reduced, said Orang Asli leaders yesterday.

Kelantan/Terengganu Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) deputy director Azman Ngatiron said the RM110 million allocation under the 2018 Budget would improve his people’s standards of living and economic development.

“The RM50 million allocation will reduce the gap between the Orang Asli children and their peers living in the urban areas,” he said.

Najib yesterday said the RM50 million allocation would be channelled through various initiatives including food aid programmes, which would benefit 5,000 Orang Asli students.

He also said a RM3,000 incentive would be given to Orang Asli parents to facilitate their children’s enrolment into higher learning institutions.

Najib also announced an allocation of RM60 million to fund the Orang Asli Village Integrated Development Programme.