SMK Singai in Bau is scheduled to be completed in March next year, but work on RM45 million project only at the piling stage
Muhyiddin is seen having a light moment with Nansian (right) upon arrival at the Redeems Gawai Carnival 2014. Also seen is Adenan (centre). — Photo by Kong Jun Liung
BAU: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was shocked when told that work on SMK Singai here, which is scheduled to be completed in nine months time, is still at the `piling stage’!
Baffled, he promised he would immediately get to the bottom of the problem plaguing this RM45 million initiative.
“I approved the school’s construction. I am quite baffled why the project, which has been awarded to a contractor, could not be implemented according to schedule,” he said when officiating at the 9th Redeems Gawai Carnival at Redeems Centre in Kampung Apar here on Tuesday.
“Maybe some problems occurred along the way. I will take note of this. I will make follow-ups with the state Education Department why the project could not be implemented in time.”
FINISHING TOUCHES: Two Bidayuh women get ready to welcome Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and his wife Puan Sri Norainee Abdul Rahman to the ninth Association of Research and Development Movement of Singai Sarawak (Redeems) Gawai Carnival at the Redeems Centre at Kampung Apar in Kuching. Some 2,000 visitors attended the carnival on Tuesday evening, which involved colourful cultural performances by the various ethnic groups to the theme ‘Malaysia Multiculture’. — Photo by Chimon Upon
Tasik Biru assemblyman cum Association of Research and Development Movement of Singai Sarawak (Redeems) president Datuk Peter Nansian raised this issue during his welcoming speech at the carnival.
The launching of the school’s building site, which spans 30.4 acres and is about one km from Bau Road, was carried out on April 14, 2011, by Deputy Minister of Education Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi.
Puad had said then that the project had been given priority attention by the Prime Minister’s Department and that it came under the first rolling plan of the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP).
SMK Singai, which is supposed to serve students staying around Musi to Tondong areas, was scheduled to be completed by March next year.
Nansian, who is also Assistant Minister of Industrial Estate Development, also highlighted that the proposed multi-purpose hall and sports facilities for the school had been scrapped from the plan.
In response, Muhyiddin assured that these facilities would be built soon after the school project was completed.
On a related matter, Nansian said there was also a need for Bau to have a vocational school and another secondary school to cater for the increasing number of students in Bau and Lundu Districts.
To that, Muhyiddin announced plans to build a vocational school in Bau District under the 11th Malaysia Plan in line with the government’s plan to build more vocational and technical training institutes across the country.
“I agree on the need to increase the number of vocational schools. Nationwide, not more than 10 per cent of students are undertaking vocational training, while in Sarawak the number is rising,’ said Muhyiddin.
“Unfortunately, the facilities that we have provided are not sufficient to meet the needs of students interested in vocational training.
“Therefore, plans to build a vocational school in Bau will be catered for under the 11 MP. I hope the state government will assist in providing a suitable site.”
Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and wife Toh Puan Ragad Kurdi, Muhyiddin’s wife Puan Sri Norainee Abdul Rahman, Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem and wife Puan Sri Dato Jamilah Anu were among those present at the carnival.