KUCHING: Work on the state’s first Matriculation Centre costing RM150 million in Lundu will start next year.
According to Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Dato’ Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, if the site for the project was approved promptly, the contractor could start work on the project next year,
The project, he stressed, was very important for all Sarawakians.
“We have long dreamed of having our own education centre and after meeting with the state Land and Survey Department, I am informed that only 50 acres of the 60-70 acres of land needed for the Matriculation Centre has been approved,” he said.
He told a press conference this after chairing a meeting to discuss the “Proposal of Construction Projects of Lundu New Hospital, Lundu Matriculation Centre and Three Mosques and Surau in the Santubong Parliamentary Area” at Wisma STA in Jalan Datuk Abang Abdul Rahim near here, yesterday.
“Today, every member of the meeting has agreed to approve this project and location of the land to set up this Matriculation Centre (on state government land) in Lundu has also been identified.
“I have discussed with the Minister of Education, Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid and told him that we will transfer this centre to Lundu as requested by the former Chief Minister, the late Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem and he has no objections.
“He also has informed me that RM20 million has been approved for the preliminary work on the centre,” he explained, adding initially the federal government planned to build the Matriculation Centre in Matang.
Currently, Sarawakians who are eligible to enter Matriculation Centres need to go over to Labuan to further their studies as there is no Matriculation Centre in the state.
Meanwhile, commenting on the construction of the new hospital in Lundu, Junaidi said his party had identified a piece of land to develop the new hospital. The land, he added, belonged to the Federal Land Commissioner under Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
“I have contacted the Minister of Transport Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and told him about the status of the project, and he did not object to developing the hospital on the land.
“So, if there is no obstacle, then the land will officially become the site of Lundu Hospital construction,” said Junaidi.
However, he said, the cost of construction of the Lundu Hospital had not been determined yet as it was still in the discussion stage.
“The state government will hold a meeting on Aug 30 to decide both matters, namely, the construction of a new Matriculation Centre as well as Lundu Hospital.
“What I can say is that the new hospital will be the most complete hospital compared to other hospitals in Sarawak and I have given a month’s time to the relevant authorities to provide the hospital plan,” he said.
Junaidi also revealed that the cost of building Kampung Samilang Mosque would be RM2.5 million while Surau Taman Mesra Bako will cost RM600,000.
