Slow reply holds back utilities to schools

S’wak govt cannot connect 113 schools to the power grid, provide treated water to 33 others without consent of Ministry of Education

KUCHING: The Sarawak government cannot connect 113 schools to the state power grid and supply treated water supply to 33 others although it is willing to foot the bill because it has to obtain the consent of the Ministry of Education ( MOE) to do so.

Educat ion , Scienc e and Technological Research Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong, who disclosed this, said the state government had approved a total of RM59 million for this purpose.

Out of that amount, he said they had estimated RM50 million to be used to connect the 113 schools to the state power grid and RM9 million to supply treated water to the 33 schools.

He said these schools had been identified by his ministry and the Sarawak Education Department from a total of 799 schools in the state that either were still dependent on generator set for electricity or without treated water supply.

I do believe there is a reason why they cannot say yes or no. It is because there is ongoing contract for the diesel supply and maintenance of generator sets to 371 schools for the period 2017, 2018 and 2019. Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong, Education, Science and Technological Research Minister

“As of today, a total of 371 schools in Sarawak are still dependent on generator set for power supply and 428 are still without treated water supply.

“We have actually identified 113 schools that can be connected to the state electricity grid and 33 schools can be immediately connected to treated water supply,” he told a press conference on the sidelines of the State Legislative Assembly ( DUN) sitting yesterday.

Manyin, who is also Tebedu assemblyman, said the state government required a formal consent from MOE to carry out the works because education is under the purview of the federal government and the schools are the property of the Federal Land Commissioner (FLC).

He said he had written to the Minister of Education Dr Maszlee Malik on Aug 8 this year and the latter replied on Oct 24 asking whether it is a grant or otherwise from the federal government.

“I replied back on Oct 31 that it is not a grant. We are just seeking consent to implement the projects. He has not replied until now.

“I do believe there is a reason why they cannot say yes or no. It is because there is ongoing contract for the diesel supply and maintenance of generator sets to 371 schools for the period 2017, 2018 and 2019.

“So what I was told they have to look at the legal implication as the (diesel supply) case is now being probed in court,” he said.