Najib signs a plaque to commemorate the opening of SK Pusa as Mahdzir (third left), Rohani (left) and Razaili (right) look on. — Bernama photo
Najib greets some of the SK Pusa students welcoming him to the school opening event. At right is school headmistress Hamisah Ahmad. — Bernama photo
BETONG: A total of 183 dilapidated school buildings throughout the state will be restored using the prefabricated Industrialised Building System (IBS) over the next seven years.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, when opening SK Pusa in the Beting Maro constituency here yesterday, said the technology has proven to be much faster than the conventional construction of a new school block.
The government is currently using IBS in eight schools in the Batang Lupar parliamentary constituency including SK Semarong, SK Sungai Pinang, SK Kalok, SK Pulau Seduku, SK Ladong, SK Tambak and SMK Sebuyau.
The new block at SK Ladong is fully completed and took only seven weeks to build.
“If we can repair around 20 to 30 schools a year, we can complete the restoration of 183 dilapidated schools in Sarawak within six to seven years. This is my ambition,” he said when officiating at the event.
The construction of SK Pusa, which costs RM21 million, took two years and was completed in June 2010. The school has 18 classrooms and 433 pupils.
Also present at the event were Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Karim as well as the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for Beting Maro Razaili Gapor.
Touching on old school buildings in poor condition, Najib said he is aware of the problems facing many schools throughout the state, particularly those situated in the interior.
To address this problem especially in the rural areas Najib said he opted for the IBS method to expedite the replacement of the old buildings.
“Some of the election candidates here have told me that the school block which they studied in, was still the same building still being used today with very little repairs done. Some of the buildings are already slanting,” Najib said.
He also announced an allocation of RM44.3 million for the building of a treated water supply distribution system from Kaki Wong to Pusa. The project is expected to be completed in November 2017.
In addition, Najib approved a further RM10 million to replace the old distribution pipes in this area.
“The implementation of these projects will rectify the water shortage issues here,” he continued.