By DayakDaily Team
LIMBANG, June 7: The old, unused building of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Limbang will soon be transformed into the Limbang Sixth Form Centre — the second of its kind in Sarawak — under a RM4.5 million upgrading project fully funded by the Sarawak government.
In a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news report, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the project, aimed at strengthening pre-university education in the region, has already received its funding allocation through the Regional Corridor Development Authority (Recoda).
He added that the project’s design plans have been completed by the Public Works Department (JKR), which has also been appointed as the implementing agency to ensure a smooth and timely rollout.
“JKR has assessed the structure and confirmed that the building remains solid, but extensive upgrades are necessary.
“I want the project to start immediately, and JKR has informed me that it is expected to be completed within eight months,” he said during a site visit to SMK Limbang on Friday (June 7).
Awang Tengah, who is also Bukit Sari assemblyman, stressed that building plan approvals need not be delayed at the State level and can instead be decided at the divisional level to expedite implementation.
“If the plan has already received support from the Education Department, the tender process can begin right away. There is no need to wait for State-level approval — divisional authorities can decide, and I want this project to proceed without delay,” he asserted.
The upgrading works will cover three academic blocks, one administrative block, and a dormitory block. The scope includes replacing roofs, installing new ceilings, repainting, rewiring, increasing the number of toilets, and furnishing the academic, administrative, dormitory, and canteen blocks.
Previously, the Northern Region Development Agency (NRDA) had developed several facilities on the same site, including male and female dormitory blocks as well as a canteen and dining hall.
The initiative underscores the Sarawak government’s commitment to improving access to quality, modern pre-university education, especially in northern regions like Limbang.
Also present during the visit were Deputy Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Sarawak cum Bukit Kota assemblyman Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, Limbang Division Resident Unus Tambi, JKR Limbang Divisional engineer Mahathir Jokeni, Limbang District Education officer Matzinan Wahit, Limbang DID Engineer Iwan Halmi, NRDA representative Wesley Rimai, and Limbang Land and Survey Department representative Bujang Radin. — DayakDaily
