SMK Singai will be ready by 2018, assures deputy minister

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Chong (wearing BN shirt) greets those coming for the dinner. Behind him, also wearing a BN shirt, is Henry.

Chong (wearing BN shirt) greets those coming for the dinner. Behind him, also wearing a BN shirt, is Henry.

BAU: The Education Ministry is serious about ensuring the delayed SMK Singai project is completed by the rescheduled completion date on April 23, 2018.

Deputy Education Minister Senator Chong Sin Woon, who said this, also said the ministry would consider Tasik Biru BN candidate Dato Henry Harry Jinep’s proposal to build SMK Jagoi and a new building for the Bau District Education Office.

At a dinner attended by more than 400 teachers, headmasters and principals from Bau District on Sunday, Chong regretted that the SMK Singai issue was being politicised by the DAP.

“I have visited the site, and I saw a DAP signboard claiming that the SMK Singai project is a lie. I am astonished at such a claim because the frame of the buildings is already there.

“We have to recognise the fact that some development projects will encounter problems due to the fault of contractors. In this case, the contractor failed to complete the job. The important thing now is that the Ministry has appointed a new contractor to resume the project, starting this April.”

Also present were Henry, a political secretary to the chief minister Datuk Wilfred Rata Nissom and Bau District education officer Les Met.

The SMK Singai project started on April 30, 2013 and it was supposed to be completed by April last year.

This proposed school, capable of taking in 1,000 students, will mitigate the overcrowding problems at SMK Lake and SMK Bau. It will also have sporting facilities.

On a related matter, Chong said he would like to work together with Henry to realise the people’s request to build SMK Jagoi and a new Bau District Education Office if the latter won in the May 7 state polls.

“I call on all of you to support Henry. I hope he wins. I will discuss his (Henry) proposals with the Education Minister.”

Henry, the new face from SPDP, is facing Mordi Bimol from the DAP in Tasik Biru.

Bau District currently has three secondary schools—SMK Bau and SMK Lake in Tasik Biru constituency and SMK Paku in Serembu constituency—and 40 primary schools, including nine Chung Hua primary schools.

Henry, who spoke earlier, said it was a dream of the people in Tasik Biru to have SMK Jagoi and a new district education office building.

The proposed SMK Jagoi will reduce overcrowding in the current schools. It will accommodate mostly those in the Jagoi areas, just like how SMK Singai will accommodate those in the Singai areas.

“If given the mandate, I pledge to work with the education minister and deputy minister to get these requests realised,” he said.