RM5 bln needed to rebuild, repair dilapidated schools
SIBU: About RM5 billion is required to repair and rebuild the 1,020 dilapidated schools across Sarawak, says Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research Dr Annuar Rapaee.
Noting such urgency, he said that Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has offered RM1 billion loan to the federal government to speedily tackle the issue as the (RM1 billion) allocation provided by the previous administration was inadequate.
“We need a huge budget of at least RM5 billion to repair and rebuild the 1,020 dilapidated schools in Sarawak.
“The RM1 billion given by the previous federal government is not enough. To solve the problem, the chief minister has offered another RM1 billion loan to the PH federal government to rebuild dilapidated schools throughout Sarawak. The federal government will repay the loan later,” he said yesterday.
Abang Johari made the offer when officiating at the Sarawaklevel Teachers Day celebration at Tan Sri Datuk Amar Kalong Ningkan hall in Betong recently.
Dr Annuar, who is also Assistant Minister of Housing and Public Health, said this was a sincere offer by Abang Johari and should not be politicised by any quarters.
“There is no political agenda behind the offer. This is a sincere offer by the chief minister to tackle this problem as soon as possible. So, let us put aside politics for the sake of our students,” the Nangka assemblyman added.
He added the ball was now in the federal government’s court.
“It is up to the federal government to decide whether to use our money first and pay us back later. If they are not comfortable with this arrangement then give a budget allocation to Sarawak.”
Dr Annuar said Abang Johari was very sincere in wanting to address the issue of dilapidated schools in Sarawak.
“That is why the Sarawak government has also given out RM59 million, of which RM50 million is for the electrification of schools and RM9 million for water supply. This amount comes from Sarawak’s own fund.”
The RM1 billion given by the previous federal government is not enough. To solve the problem, the chief minister has offered another RM1 billion loan to the PH federal government to rebuild dilapidated schools throughout Sarawak. The federal government will repay the loan later. — Dr Annuar Rapaee, Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research