By Adrian Lim
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 6: The dilapidated schools projects in Sarawak are currently under various stages of rebuilding.
Deputy Education Minister Muslimin Yahaya said 93 dilapidated schools in Sarawak with a total cost of RM700 million were approved for rebuilding under phase one and two.
He disclosed that the rebuilding of dilapidated schools in Sarawak using a special mechanism has been divided into three phases which was agreed by the Ministry of Education and the Sarawak government.
“For the first phase until August 5, 21 projects are under construction while 20 projects are in the pre construction phase.
“Out of the 20 projects in pre construction phase, four projects have been open for tender on July 25 and will close on August 10.
“There are also 10 projects which are being finalised for appointment (of contractors) at the Treasury Department and the remaining six projects are expected to be opened for tender at the end of September,” he said when replying to a question from Igan MP Ahmad Johnie Zawawi at the Parliament today.
Muslimin said all the dilapidated school projects under phase two of rebuilding were still at the pre construction phase.
He said the Sarawak Public Works Department is conducting surveys and preparing the design plan and documents for tender submission.
Muslimin said the tender process for phase two will start on August 22.
He revealed that there were four dilapidated school projects in the Igan constituency with an estimated cost of RM98.5 million to be rebuilt under the fourth rolling plan of the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP).
Muslimin outlined that those schools are SMK Matu, SK Kampung Tebaang, SK Kampung Pergau and SK Bawang Tian.
He explained that the four school projects were under the implementation agency of Sarawak Public Works Department and is currently in the pre construction phase.
Responding to a supplementary question from Ahmad Johnie, Muslimin said 529 schools in Sarawak have been identified for repair and upgraded under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).
For dilapidated schools which are under construction, Muslimin disclosed that the schools were SK Abang Amin Meradong with a completion rate of 16 per cent and SK Abun Matu Belaga with a completion rate of six per cent.
Ahmad Johnie has asked the Education Ministry whether the Perikatan Nasional (PN) federal government will reconsider to allocate RM1 billion for the implementation and expedite the rebuilding of the dilapidated schools in Sarawak.
To that, Muslimin said there were 20 dilapidated schools in Sarawak which is currently in various stages of pre construction.
Hence, Muslimin said altogether there were a total of 1,200 dilapidated schools in Sarawak which will be redeveloped by the Education Ministry in the future. —DayakDaily
