Federal, S’wak govts to sign agreement on contra payment — Manyin
An agreement will be signed between the federal government and Sarawak government to ensure that the RM1-billion contra payment is spent only on dilapidated schools in Sarawak.
Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong said this was one of the proposals made by Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik and his secretarygeneral Dato Dr Mohd Gazali Abas during their courtesy call on Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg last month.
“He informed that the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the federal government did acknowledge our concerns regarding the decision to pay the money to the Federal Consolidated Fund for it to be disbursed through the annual budget,” he said when winding up his ministerial speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) yesterday.
According to him, once the RM1-billion contra payment is paid into the consolidated fund, it goes to the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) and the Parliament will allocate budget from this fund for various purposes.
“This will definitely take considerable time and will delay the upgrading of schools that are already in critical condition.
“Further, there is no guarantee that the RM1 billion paid will be fully allocated for dilapidated schools in Sarawak as the EPU and the Parliament can decide on how the money should be used,” he said, adding that the state is also concerned that the RM1 billion should be over and above the normal funding for upgrading of dilapidated schools in Sarawak.
Manyin pointed out that in addition to the suggestion for an agreement to be signed, Maszlee and Gazali also made several other proposals to break the impasse.
He informed that the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the federal government did acknowledge our concerns regarding the decision to pay the money to the Federal Consolidated Fund for it to be disbursed through the annual budget. Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong
“These are that the RM1 billion be placed into a special account (vote), and not into the Federal Consolidated Fund; a tripartite committee consisting of the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education and Sarawak government would be established to manage the fund and to oversee the project; the procurement process would be managed by the State Federal Tender Board; and the Public Works Department (JKR) Sarawak would be the implementing agency,” he disclosed.
Later at a press conference, Manyin told reporters that the Sarawak government is currently waiting for a reply from the Ministry of Finance regarding the proposals.
“The Chief Minister has agreed to the proposals but the final say has to come from the Ministry of Finance. We are expecting to hear from them, hopefully before Gawai and we hope that it is a favourable one.”