Chong questions RM40 million allocation to relocate, build school

KUCHING: The Sarawak government is asked to justify its decision to set aside over RM40 million to relocate and build a school.

Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Chong Chieng Jen specifically threw this challenge to Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research Dr Annuar Rapaee during a news conference here yesterday.

Chong, who is state Democratic Action Party ( DAP) chairman, Stampin MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman, wondered why it cost so much to relocate and build two schools in Sarawak.

The two schools are SK Ulu Segan in Bintulu and SK Maludam in Betong.

“According to Annuar Rapaee, who is Nangka assemblyman, the state government has allocated more than RM40 million to build each school. These schools are not located in very, very interior sites. Both schools are accessible by tarred road and very near Bintulu and Betong town,” he said at DAP Sarawak headquarters here.

Chong thus challenged the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) assistant minister to provide him with the specifications of the mentioned schools.

He said Dr Annuar should reveal the specifications of the two schools to justify spending such a big allocation.

“How is he going to justify the state government spending over RM40 million to build one school? And each of the schools has around 250 students,” pointed out Chong.

He opined that ‘there is no way to build a primary school of 250 students that cost over RM40 million’.

“He ( Dr Annuar) has to be accountable to the people of Sarawak.” He said Dr Annuar must tell Sarawakians how the Sarawak government approved the two school projects.

“Do not treat projects for schools as ATM of GPS government,” cautioned Chong.