SIBU – The federal government’s decision to hand over the implementation of any project costing below RM50 million in Sarawak to the state government will expedite efforts to repair dilapidated schools in the state, said state Deputy Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Dr Annuar Rapa’ee.
Annuar said the decision announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was a very positive move.
“This decision will reduce bureaucracy and expedite projects to be implemented, especially in efforts to repair dilapidated schools,” he said in a video clip posted on his Facebook page today.
He said that previously, whenever something occurred or required a notice of change in planning, the Sarawak government was required to refer it to the federal government, adding to the time needed to resolve it.
He added that the repairs to dilapidated schools in Sarawak involved not only different designs from those used in the peninsula, but also different logistical problems.
Dr Annuar said that even though the industrialised building system is used comprehensively in Peninsular Malaysia, it might not be used in Sarawak because the long distances from cities would pose transportation problems.
According to him, most of the dilapidated schools that had been repaired or rebuilt were estimated to have cost between RM20 million and RM30 million.
“With the RM50 million, I am confident the projects to repair dilapidated schools in Sarawak can be expedited with the government’s decision today,” he added.
The prime minister, announcing the matter at a media conference after chairing the cabinet meeting in Putrajaya today, said the Finance Ministry had agreed to hand over the implementation of any project costing below RM50 million in Sabah and Sarawak to the state governments, subject to compliance with financial regulations. – Bernama, January 4, 2023
