Expedite approval of RM1 billion fund for rundown schools, says Sarawak minister

Sarawak Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Michael Manyin speaking to reporters in Kuching today.

KUCHING: A Sarawak minister has called on the finance ministry to expedite approval of the RM1 billion fund meant for dilapidated schools, to be deposited in a special account managed by the federal and state governments.

Sarawak Education, Science and Technological Research Minister Michael Manyin said the state government had agreed to the formula and was ready to issue a RM300 million cheque to kick off the upgrade works.

Earlier, Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg also said the state government was ready to carry out repair works on the dilapidated schools through two cheques amounting to RM300 million and another worth RM400 million over a period of two years.

“The cheques are ready. It’s now just the formula between the Sarawak and federal governments in regard to the implementation,” he said.

Manyin, when met after the launch of the 54th Principal Education Management Conference today, said he hoped the education ministry would assist them to pursue the matter.

A tripartite committee consisting of the finance and education ministries and the Sarawak government is expected to be established to oversee the project and ensure that the RM1 billion is spent only on dilapidated schools in the state.

Last month, Manyin said he hoped to receive approval from the finance ministry before the Gawai celebration on June 1.

“Unfortunately, we have not received any reply from the finance ministry pertaining to the matter, otherwise we could have started improving the condition of our schools in the rural areas,” he said.

He said there were a total of 415 critically dilapidated schools in the rural areas of Sarawak.

However, he declined to answer when asked if there was politics involved in the matter.

Earlier last month, Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen said financial transparency demanded that the money be paid to the federal government’s consolidated account as it is a federal grant.

“We want all these projects to be carried out via an open tender system,” he said.

However, Manyin said if the money is paid to the consolidated fund, it would have to go through the economic planning unit (EPU) and Parliament before the budget is allocated.

“This would definitely take considerable time and would delay the upgrade of schools that are already in critical condition.

“Further, there is no guarantee that the RM1 billion paid will be fully allocated for dilapidated schools in Sarawak, as the EPU and Parliament can decide how the money should be used,” he said. - FMT