‘RM1 billion loan offer to rebuild dilapidated schools open to negotiation’
LAWAS: Works Minister Baru Bian welcomes the Sarawak government’s RM1-billion loan offer to the federal government for it to address the issue of dilapidated schools in Sarawak.
According to him, there are over 200 schools in Sarawak under this category that require urgent attention from the government.
He also recalled about such proposal having been raised in State Legislative Assembly ( DUN) before, suggesting that the Sarawak government could undertake rehabilitation works on schools and other basic infrastructure like roads and clinics – as long as it had solid financial capacity.
“This (RM1-billion offer) can be negotiated upon, for the sake of Sarawakians,” he told reporters during a visit to Lawas Hospital project site yesterday, where he was accompanied by Sarawak Health Department director Dr Jamilah Hashim and Pakatan Harapan (PH) Sarawak secretary Alan Ling.
Baru, who is Selangau MP and Ba Kelalan assemblyman, pointed out that the issue of dilapidated schools is not ‘something new’.
“We, as the government, regard this issue seriously and will forward this matter to the relevant ministry.”
On the Lawas Hospital project, Baru acknowledged the delay in the works, which had been going on since 2011.
He said he could relate to the hardship faced by the local folk, who had to incur high costs just to obtain medical treatment at, or to send sick family members to Miri Hospital.
“There is also the crossboundary factor that necessitates the setting-up of a proper hospital in Lawas. There were people who died before even reaching Miri Hospital,” he said.
On another subject, Baru expressed his condolences to the family of Catherine Janet Tiwi, 25, who lost her life during a fire that struck a primary school in Mulu on Wednesday.
“It is hoped that the family would stay strong, having to endure the loss of their loved one to a tragedy like this,” he said.