THE state government is ‘stepping in’ with an allocation of RM81.7 million to rebuild, repair and upgrade dilapidated schools, including providing water and electricity supplies.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the sum was far from the estimated over RM1 billion needed to address the problem which involved 1,020 schools in the state, of which 415 were in critical condition.
He said the state had to ‘step in’, stressing: “It is disheartening to see our children have long been suffering from such poor quality condition and are forced to study in such an inferior learning environment.”
He said while the previous federal government had approved a RM1 billion special allocation for the repair and upgrading of the dilapidated schools, the current government did not indicate any such allocation in its 2019 Federal Budget.
“The new federal government ought to fulfil this obligation by providing the funding as approved,” he added.
