KUCHING, Sept 21: Democratic Action Party (DAP) Serian protem president Brolin Nicholsion urges the Sarawak government to use the State Sales Tax (SST) payment from Petronas on improving rural schools first.
He held that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government should be investing the money in repairing dilapidated schools in rural areas which are existing issues in the state rather than that in international schools which are not yet completed.
“GPS government must not use the money from SST payment to only help those local students going to international schools as many are struggling to go to national schools daily because of transportation difficulty.
“Thus, GPS government must use the money to repair the dilapidated schools that have been the issue for so many years especially in the rural areas so that the schools will be more comfortable for both teachers and students,” he said in a statement today.
In stating this, he added that the state-owned international schools are only expected to be operational by 2023, so he questioned whether the students would only benefit from the fund when the international schools are ready to use.
Noting that the money belongs to all Sarawakians, the special assistant to DAP Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen said it must be then enjoyed by all Sarawakians.
“If GPS is sincere in helping the Sarawakians, please put priority to the rural schools’ students.
“Those areas are barely enjoying clean water supply and some even have problems with road access and electricity supply.
“I really hope that the state government will focus on the unsolved problems first instead of focusing on the things that are yet to be done,” said Brolin. —DayakDaily
