RM1 bil to repair schools in Sarawak

KUCHING: The Cabinet today agreed that the Sarawak government’s RM1 billion debt with the federal government would be used to upgrade dilapidated schools in the state.

In a statement here, Education Minister Maszlee Malik said that the decision followed a meeting between him and Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Tun Openg here yesterday.

The move would benefit 436,000 pupils throughout Sarawak, he said.

“The Cabinet has also agreed that the project will be closely monitored to ensure that the RM1 billion will be used efficiently and will benefit the students and teachers of the schools,” he said.

Maszlee said a special committee, comprising the education ministry, finance ministry and Sarawak state government representatives, would be set up to ensure clean governance and transparency.

“At the implementation stage, the Sarawak Public Works Department (JKR) will be the implementation agency,” he said. - FMT