Specs on school projects: JKR has all info, Chong told
SIBU: Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research Dr Annuar Rapaee says there is no need for federal Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Chong Chieng Jen to challenge him on disclosing the specifications of school projects in Bintulu and Betong.
This is because being a federal deputy minister, Chong would have the access to Public Works Department (JKR) to obtain such information.
“We ( Ministry of Education and Technological Research) are the client agency of the projects, whereas JKR is the implementing agency. Therefore all the specifications, including the costs, are done by JKR – he (Chong) should understand that.
“As a deputy minister, he has all the authority, all the avenues – he can just call up (whether state or federal) JKR to obtain the specifications.
“He can even ask Works Minister ( Baru Bian) to check for it. If at the end of the day, he is still not satisfied with the information given, then he can question JKR,” Dr Annuar told The Borneo Post when contacted.
During the press conference in Kuching on Thursday, Chong had challenged Dr Annuar to disclose the specifications of two schools – SK Ulu Segan in Bintulu, and SK Maludam in Betong – to which the Sarawak government had set aside over RM40 million each, for relocation and rebuilding works.
We (Minister of Education and Technological Research) are the client agency of the projects, whereas JKR is the implementing agency. Therefore all the specifications, including the costs, are done by JKR – he (Chong) should understand that.
Chong had questioned the costs involved as well, adding that based on information that he received, the sites of the two schools – each able to accommodate 250 pupils – were not far from Bintulu and Betong town, respectively.
“I challenge YB Dr Annuar to show me the specifications for the school buildings and I ask why the need to spend over RM40 million to build each of the two schools,” said Chong, who is Stampin MP and also also Democratic Action Party ( DAP) Sarawak chairman.
He also was quoted as having said that Sarawak’s ruling coalition Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) must not use the school projects as ‘an ATM (auto-teller machine) to benefit its cronies’.
Dr Annuar, in response, said Chong should not have been so naive as to not know who was responsible for the project specifications.
“I think he (Chong) is actually trying to be a ‘ hero’ and so, he is trying to challenge me about (revealing the specifications of) these two schools,” said Dr Annuar, who is also Assistant Minister of Housing and Public Health.
He also believed that Chong’s statement was prompted by his concern over the video depicting a debate during the last Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting.
“I think he ( Chong) has been worrying about that video, showing the debate between him and I in the DUN, which has garnered a lot of negative responses against him because of ( him) politicising education,” said Dr Annuar, who is Nangka assemblyman.
In this respect, he felt that Chong should have approached him to collectively address such concern, instead of airing it via the mass media.
“I have said from day one that education should not be politicised from both sides of the political divide.
“Any problem, query or dissatisfaction about education – we can sit down and work together to find an amicable solution for the benefit of the school- children.
“We, at the ministry, are very open to discuss with him. Instead, he has issued a challenge and by doing so, he is trying to be a ‘hero’. But if he is a real hero for Sarawak – so far, what has he brought in for Sarawak in terms of funding since his appointment as a federal
Dr Annuar Rapaee, Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research
deputy minister?
“Has he managed to get the 30 per cent (development expenditure)? He should reveal that – whether he has been successful or not, if I were to challenge him,” argued Dr Annuar, referring to Chong’s recent statement that Pakatan Harapan ( PH) Sarawak would strive to ensure that the national Budget 2019 would include the 30 per cent development expenditure to Sarawak and Sabah, as promised in its election manifesto.
Dr Annuar also pointed out that there was no need for a situation to challenge each other, as that would be counter-productive.
“Nonetheless, I will call him ( Chong) personally to make an appointment with him (and) to see JKR regarding the specifications and costs – if he’s really concerned about these two schools,” he said.