KUCHING: The Federal Cabinet has approved the repayment of a RM1 billion debt to the Federal Government from the Sarawak Government to fix dilapidated schools in Sarawak.
In a Facebook post, Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik revealed this decision following a previous agreement between him and Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
This was agreed upon during his visit to the Chief Minister’s Office on Feb 19 to discuss issues that would benefit 436,000 pupils across the state.
A loan was offered last year by Abang Johari due to the urgency and need to repair the schools in question.
A special committee comprising the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance and the State Government of Sarawak will be established to ensure clean governance and transparent processes are be implemented.
At the implementation stage, the Sarawak Public Works Department (JKR) will be assigned as the implementing agency.
The Cabinet has also agreed that the project will be closely monitored to ensure that the funds of RM1 billion will be put to use efficiently and would directly benefit students and teachers in the schools concerned.
“I hereby thank the Federal Government and Sarawak Chief Minister, YAB Datuk Patinggi Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Bin Tun Abang Haji Openg for coming together with me to ensure future access to quality education for Sarawakians,” he said.
[Source: “Putrajaya accepts RM1 bln debt repayment from Sarawak to fix dilapidated schools” published by BorneoPost Online]Photo Credits: BorneoPost Online
