PH told to fulfil pledge of RM1 bln for rundown schools
We hope that what had been allocated, would not be shelved.
Dr Annuar Rapaee, Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research
SIBU: The Sarawak government wants the Pakatan Harapan ( PH) government to honour the pledge of RM1-billion allocation for the upgrading works on dilapidated schools across Sarawak.
Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research Dr Annuar Rapaee pointed out that the RM1 billion was approved under the federal budget last year.
“We hope that what had been allocated, would not be shelved,” he told reporters after launching the fifth- edition Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) Intensive Clinic 2018 at University College of Technology Sarawak ( UCTS) here yesterday.
The 10-week free tuition for some 250 Form 5 students was run by Sibu Bumiputera Graduate Association ( PGBS), in collaboration with Nangka Service Centre and UCTS.
Dr Annuar, who is also Nangka assemblyman, was commenting on Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik’s recent statement about the Education Ministry having provided a special allocation of RM35.74 million to Sarawak for urgent repair and maintenance works on 853 dilapidated schools this year.
Maszlee had, on his Facebook posting regarding the summary to his answer in Parliament on July 31, said the distribution of the allocation was based on the priority of the scope of works recommended by the Sarawak Education Department (JPN) and subject to the total allocation received by the ministry.
Maszlee also revealed that 41 out of 116 projects to upgrade the dilapidated schools in Sarawak had reached completion, while seven other projects recorded progress rate above 80 per cent.
On this, Dr Annuar said: “The RM419 million at the moment, which has been used to upgrade 116 dilapidated schools in Sarawak, is under the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) list. What we want is over and above (that amount).
“Therefore, the list of 116 schools should not be included under the RM1 billion (allocation) approved last year. In other words, we still have RM1 billion.
“We want the PH government to fulfil the pledge of RM1 billion allocation, even though it was promised by the previous government under the federal budget.”
According to Dr Annuar, the Sarawak government also wanted the federal government to respond to RM1- billion loan offered by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg to rebuild dilapidated schools across Sarawak.
“There must be a concrete plan to upgrade all dilapidated schools (across Sarawak).
“At the moment, we have not heard (about this matter) but he ( Maszlee) said he would do it. “Nonetheless, we have not seen the master plan (to repair dilapidated schools) but give him time – we have no problem on that.”
Dr Annuar also expressed his disappointment with some netizens, who made comparisons between the present and past governments pertaining to the issue of dilapidated schools.
“You can’t make comparisons in that manner. We know that PH government is less than 100 days old, while the previous BN government had governed for 60 years.
“You see, the issue of dilapidated schools were brought when the Education, Science and Technological Research Ministry of Sarawak was set up last year.
“People changed the government because they wanted something better. So, please give them something better,” he added.
It is estimated that there are about 1,020 dilapidated schools in Sarawak.