Not holding up end of bargain
CM says Putrajaya yet to start repair of dilapidated schools despite having received first tranche of RM350 mln
LUNDU: The federal government has yet to take any action to repair dilapidated schools in Sarawak despite the state having paid the first tranche of RM350 million out of the agreed RM1 billion sum, said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
During the ‘Berambeh Ngan Abang Jo’ town hall session at Lundu Community Hall, Abang Johari in responding to a question from a school teacher said although the state had already se led the first part of the agreement, Putrajaya has given no indication as to when repair works would start at these schools.
“I have already paid the RM350 million as required in our bargain, but until now the repair work for dilapidated schools in the state has not begun. But over there (in Peninsular Malaysia), even education is politicised.
“When I asked Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, his response was that a commi ee would need to be formed first. Pembulak (liar)!” Abang Johari told those in a endance.
The chief minister also maintained that the Sarawak government did not have any debts with the federal government, and was prompt in paying its loans to them.
“Loans are our right in the Federal Constitution. The federal government is obligated to giving grants and loans to all the states in Malaysia, as is written in the Constitution.
“Even so, Sarawak doesn’t have any debts with the federal government, and any loans that we have, we pay on the dot,” he stressed.
Lim had previously asked the Sarawak government to settle the first tranche of RM350 million out of RM1 billion with Putrajaya, after which the sum would be disbursed to the state for the repair of dilapidated schools.
The federal minister also said the Sarawak government still owed Putrajaya RM2.352 billion as of June 30 this year, adding that the repayment of the RM1 billion would mean the debt to the federal government would stand at RM1.352 billion.
The federal government had agreed in principle to accept the RM1 billion loan payment by the Sarawak government for the repair of dilapidated schools in the state, subject to four legal mechanisms which were agreed to by both sides.
On Aug 13, state Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Dato Sri Michael Manyin was reported to have said that his ministry had submitted a list of 37 critically dilapidated schools to Putrajaya to be repaired immediately.
According to the ministry, there are about 1,020 schools in the state listed as dilapidated, including 415 considered critically dilapidated.
Among those present at the town hall session were Santubong MP Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, Tanjong Datu assemblywoman Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu, Opar assemblyman Datuk Ranum Mina and Petra Jaya MP Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.