By Doreen Ling
BETONG, June 23: Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation, and Talent Development Sarawak, Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee, is not blaming any party but wants all stakeholders to focus on finding the best solution for the welfare of the students at Kuching Polytechnic, following public concern over the condition of the hostel facilities at the institution, which was attributed to a surge in student intake.
Commenting on a viral social media post that exposed worn-out mattresses at the polytechnic, Dr Annuar said the episode should serve as a reminder of the need for collective responsibility in maintaining student welfare.
“Many posts have been circulating on social media about the condition of the polytechnic. I rushed there yesterday (June 22), not because it had gone viral, but because I am grateful to the netizens for highlighting an important issue,” he said at the officiation of the PETRONAS’ Empowering Knowledge: MLNG Bestari Outreach Programme at SMK Pusa today. An audio recording of his speech was made available to DayakDaily.
He said when he visited the polytechnic, he found some of the mattresses, as well as beds and hostel rooms, to be in less-than-favourable conditions.
“There is no need to point fingers over who is right or wrong. I am not interested in being overly defensive on behalf of any party.
“What is important is that all parties take responsibility to ensure that what happened at the polytechnic will not happen again, either there or anywhere else in Sarawak,” he said.
Meanwhile, in a doorstep interview reported by TVS, Dr Annuar said that the sharp increase in student enrolment is believed to be the main factor behind the unsatisfactory condition of hostel facilities at the polytechnic.
He said that Kuching Polytechnic admitted about 1,600 students this year compared with around 1,200 previously, while more than 40 hostel rooms could not be used due to safety concerns and inadequate facilities.
“There may have been a misunderstanding whereby the UPU (Central University Unit) offered places to that number of students, while the polytechnic may not have been prepared to accommodate so many because it has more than 40 rooms that cannot be used at all,” he said.
He added that Polytechnic Kuching had submitted an official request to his ministry at 10am today, and the matter would be forwarded to the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) to expedite efforts to upgrade the affected facilities.
On Monday (June 22), several posts were made on a Facebook group called ‘Sarawak Awareness Group (No Ads)’ showing pictures of facilities at the polytechnic. — DayakDaily
