13 contractors awarded school repair project
BAU: Thirteen local contractors have received the letters of acceptance from the state Public Works Department (JKR), approving them as the appointed contractors for the first phase of the project involving 51 dilapidated schools across the Sarawak.
It is reported that the development would cost RM130.62 million.
According to Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, these contractors will incorporate industrialised building system (IBS) in their works.
“The first phase, to be implemented through JKR Sarawak, involves 13 packages and 13 contractors, whose scope of works includes 294 classrooms, 12 hostels, seven science classes, 28 toilet units and six dining halls,” he said before handing over the letters to the appointed contractors and performing the earth-breaking ceremony at SK Sungai Pinang here yesterday.
Fadillah said the selection process was based on direct discussions with local contractors who were recommended by JKR Sarawak.
He also stressed that the project, upon its completion, would provide a learning environment conducive to the teachers, pupils and the school staff and at the same time, it would also boost their morale.
“It is very important that these young people are given new classrooms and better learning environment as these are our KUCHING: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian’s statement of a possible clean sweep of the seven parliamentary seats allocated to the party has been seen as merely a “morale booster” for the party.
Political observer Dr Chou Chii Ming – former president of the Federation of Kuching, Samarahan and Serian Divisions Chinese Associations – said Dr Sim’s statement on the first day of the Lunar New Year was “subjective”.
“His statement made on Feb 15 is subjective. I think his intention is to boost the morale of SUPP.
“To win all seven parliamentary seats allocated to SUPP in the last general election needs a high degree of cooperation between UPP (United People’s Party) and SUPP with the strong support of PBB (Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu),” he said when contacted yesterday.
On whether SUPP could win all seven seats for Barisan Nasional (BN), Chou replied, “That is a political aim of SUPP only. I do not think it can win all seven seats alone.”
He opined that it would be tough for SUPP to wrest the Bandar Kuching and Stampin seats from the opposition. future assets and human capital, who will further build this nation,” he said.
Fadillah added that the project was the commitment promised by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who announced the allocation of RM2.5 billion for 2,000 dilapidated schools nationwide during the tabling of 2018 Budget last October.
The breakdown of the allocation was RM500 million for Peninsular Malaysia, and RM1 billion for Sabah and Sarawak.
“These schools in the whole country are in dilapidated condition – many of them have roofs that are leaking, broken floor boards, walls riddled with holes and obsolete equipment,” said Fadillah, adding that the main project would cover 117 schools in Sarawak, 109 schools in Sabah and 150 schools in the peninsula.
For the first phase involving 51 schools in Sarawak, the works are expected to reach completion within four months.
Adding on, Fadillah reminded the appointed contractors to finish the works within this timeframe and also to make sure that they would adhere to the standards and specifications, as well as project scope.
“We cannot promise that you’d be given the same job in the future, but we hope that your works would satisfy the school management, the teachers and the students,” he stressed.
On the other hand, Fadillah said the other 66 dilapidated schools in Sarawak, which also came under first phase of the rebuilding and upgrading project, would be implemented under Ministry of Education (Moe).
“They (MoE) will find their own contractors, consultants and people to carry out the works,” he said.
Earlier when met by reporters, SK Sungai Pinang headmistress Jangor Durim said her side was very pleased to see the steps taken by the government to build a new block at the school, which is now about 50 years old.
According to her, SK Sungai Pinang houses 166 pupils and 21 school staff members.
“We hope that with the new building, we would be able to house more pupils.
“At the moment, we have six rooms that are functional – we try to do some repairs here and there so that we can use all these rooms for our activities.
“We really look forward to having new classrooms,” she said.
Serembu assemblyman Miro Simuh, JKR deputy director (building sector) Kamaluddin Rashid, JKR Sarawak director Datu Zuraimi Sabki and State Implementation and Co-ordination Unit director Mohd Zaki Mahyudin were also present.
Clean sweep statement merely to boost SUPP’s morale — political observer