KUCHING, June 15: State Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong today clarifies that the “sick” RM21.6 million school repair project is a federal initiative.
He said his office had no say in this project, which uses the Industrialised Building System (IBS).
“No say, no say. It is all direct from there, the Ministry of Works,” replied Manyin today when reporters covering the Chief Minister’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri Open House at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) asked him whether his ministry had any authority to award such a project.
“I think the best person to ask is Datuk (Seri) Fadillah (Yusof, former Works Minister) because it was not awarded by us. It is from the Ministry of Works,” he said.
He was asked to comment on a recent article by The Borneo Post that repair work on some dilapidated schools in Kuching, Kota Samarahan and Bau under this project was barely 15 per cent done when they were supposed to be fully completed.
“I am aware of the delay, but I was not even called for the meeting (to ask for opinions on using the IBS to repair the schools),” said Manyin.
He added that repair work on the affected schools was supposed to be completed within four to five months.
“It is supposed to be very, very fast. They should do it within four to five months. I think they are worried about the change of government,” opined Manyin.
