Consider S’wakian MP as deputy education minister, says teachers union

KUCHING: Sarawak Bumiputera Teachers Union (KGBS) hopes that a Sarawakian MP will be considered for the Deputy Education Minister portfolio in the unity government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

KGBS president Zulkiflee Sebli believed that with a deputy education minister from Sarawak, education-related issues in the state will be better addressed.

“We are confident that the Education Minister and a deputy from Sarawak will be able to work together to enhance education development especially in Sarawak.

“The matter is in line with Sarawak’s demand for autonomy in education to enable the state to manage its education affairs,” he said when speaking to The Borneo Post’s sister paper Utusan Borneo yesterday.

Zulkiflee said KGBS looks forward to Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek making frequent visits to Sarawak to address the various education-related needs.

He said it matters a lot for the new minister to see for herself the conditions of some schools in the state, particularly those in dilapidated condition, in order to come up with a better assessment of the needs of Sarawak.

“KGBS hopes that she will be committed and diligent in conducting field visits to Sarawak to see for herself the conditions of some of our schools,” he said.

On the appointment of five full ministers from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Zulkiflee said he was happy and grateful for the decision by the prime minister.

“In fact, the appointment of Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof as Deputy Prime Minister is the greatest honour for the people of Sarawak and it is something that we are proud of.

“We hope that those who have been appointed will uphold integrity and continue to fight for our rights enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963,” he said.