Federal govt should accept loan contra formula — Dr Annuar
SIBU: The federal government should accept the loan contra formula proposed by Sarawak government to resolve the perennial issue of dilapidated schools as any further delays will only exert more hardships on students and teachers of these schools.
In stating this, Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research Dr Annuar Rapaee hopes there will be an amicable solution when Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik meets up with Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg this month end.
He said he fully supported Abang Johari’s statement that the Sarawak government will stand firm in rejecting the request from Minister of Finance Lim Guan Eng for Sarawak to pay in advance RM1 billion to the ministry for the repair or rebuilding of dilapidated schools in Sarawak.
“I support the Chief Minister because the federal government should agree to this method of tackling the issue of dilapidated schools in Sarawak as education matters are under federal jurisdiction.
“This is a sincere effort from Sarawak government despite education being federal government’s obligation. It is rightly so that the federal government should be thankful to Sarawak government for offering such method of resolving the issue of dilapidated schools,” Dr Annuar, who is also Assistant Minister of Housing and Public Health, added.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister had said this was not what he had in mind when he proposed for Sarawak to come up with the RM1 billion to contra the federal loan to Sarawak which was agreed to by Maszlee in their previous meeting.
On this, the Nangka assemblyman recalled that Maszlee had previously said in his Facebook post that the federal cabinet had approved the loan of RM1 billion from Sarawak to the federal government to fix dilapidated schools in the state.
Maszlee had also said that the decision was made following an agreement between him and Abang Johari during his visit here on Feb 19 this year, to discuss the school issue that would benefit 436,000 pupils across Sarawak.
Dr Annuar said: “To me, when the federal cabinet had agreed to such arrangement – I don’t understand how it (the decision) can be overturned by ‘someone’.
“So, I feel a bit weird on this matter as to me, when the federal cabinet had given its approval, then it is just a matter of implementation.”
He also felt confused by Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching’s recent statement urging the Sarawak government to quickly channel the RM1 billion to fix the dilapidated schools in the state after visiting SK Sebandi Matang in Asajaya.
“This statement was made by her and not the minister (Maszlee). How come she made such statement? It seems that there are conflicting statements. So, I feel weird,” Dr Annuar pointed out.
He opined that Maszlee should be given the benefit of doubt to pursue the matter amicably with Abang Johari.
“I welcome Dr Maszlee’s gesture to meet up with the Chief Minister to discuss further on the matter.
“I really hope that the matter can be ironed out amicably so that implementation of the measures to resolve the dilapidated schools in Sarawak can be expedited,” he emphasised.
According to Dr Annuar, there are 415 schools classified as ‘severely dilapidated’ in Sarawak.