Sarawak needs RM5b to repair schools

KUCHING: Sarawak needs at least RM5 billion to repair and rebuild the dilapidated schools in the state, says Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Dato Sri Michael Manyin.

He said this in response to Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik’s statement that the federal government was targeting 50 per cent of all dilapidated schools in the country to be repaired in 2019.

He also said the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government had repaired more than 10 per cent of dilapidated schools in the country since PH took over the federal government.

Manyin, however disagreed, saying the statement did not specifically mention the 10 per cent of the repaired schools were in Sarawak.

“Maybe the 10 per cent is in Peninsular Malaysia, not in Sarawak,” he told a press conference after the conclusion of Junior Innovate Sarawak Finals 2018 and NextSparks Competition held at Saradise Innovation Space in Jalan Stutong here yesterday.

He went on to say that 116 contracts were issued for 116 schools in Sarawak under the previous Barisan Nasional govt on Feb 29 to repair and rebuild dilapidated schools using the Industrialised Building System (IBS).

Out of the 116 schools, 50 were handled by the Public Works Department (JKR) Sarawak, while 66 schools were handled by Ministry of Education.

All the schools under JKR Sarawak have been repaired while only 16 schools under the Ministry of Education have been repaired.

The rest of the schools handled by Ministry of Education were classified as ‘sick projects’ because they were supposed to be fully repaired in August.

“Since May, when Pakatan Harapan took over (the federal govt), they have not done anything to the dilapidated schools in Sarawak”, he added.

Manyin said it’s wishful thinking to target repairing 50 per cent of the dilapidated schools in the nation.

“If we are to repair and rebuild all the dilapidated schools in Sarawak, the total number (of dilapidated schools) is 1,020. The number of schools in critically dilapidated condition is 425 schools, which need to be rebuilt.”

Manyin added that RM2.5 billion would be needed if the federal government wanted to achieve the 50 per cent target.

“We pray that RM2.5 billion will come out from the 2019 Budget, which will be tabled in November.”