Sarawak Cm Taken To Task Over School Repairs

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Sarawak PH chairman Chong Chieng Jen says the state has already been given the go-ahead to begin repairing its dilapidated schools. (Bernama pic)KUCHING: Sarawak Pakatan Harapan chairman Chong Chieng Jen has taken Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg to task for blaming Putrajaya for the delay in repairing dilapidated schools in the state
He said the finance and education ministries had done all that was necessary to facilitate the repair of the schools
Abang Johari had said the federal government had yet to authorise the repairs although the state government had paid RM350 million as part of its debt to Putrajaya
In a statement today, Chong responded by saying Abang Johari had announced on Aug 4 that the Sarawak government had repaid RM350 million
He said the finance ministry issued a letter one day later authorising the education ministry to carry out preparatory work to repair the schools
He said the letter was issued on trust and to expedite matters based on a press statement by Abang Johari, although the funds transfer had not been confirmed
On Aug 6, Chong said, the education ministry issued a letter requesting the works ministry to go ahead with preparing to repair the schools
“After confirmation of the receipt of the RM350 million on Aug 14, the finance ministry issued a second letter to the education ministry informing them that the funds had been received and requesting them to take immediate action in repairing the schools
“The education ministry on Aug 15 issued a letter of authorisation for the project’s implementation to Sarawak’s Public Works Department (PWD) director and director-general,” he said
Chong, who is also the state DAP chairman, said the finance ministry had given the green light for the state PWD to collaborate with the Sarawak government to speed things up
Since Aug 15, all necessary clearance had been given to the State PWD to carry out the repairs, he said
“It is thus unbecoming of Abang Johari to resort to name-calling and blaming the finance ministry for the delay of the projects
“Either Abang Johari is ignorant of what Deputy Chief Minister James Jemut Masing is doing with his ministry or he has intentionally made the unfounded statement for his political gains
“I urge Abang Johari to be sincere in working together with the federal government for the benefit of Sarawakians,” he said. - FMT

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