KUCHING: The state government wants a copy of the contract documents that were signed between the Ministry of Education and the contractor that supplies diesel and maintains the generator sets to rural schools in Sarawak.
Minister of Women, Welfare and Community Wellbeing Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said the state government and the state Education Department had to have a copy each of the contract documents so that they could help monitor their operation.
She lamented that the state government and the state Education Department were never in the know about the deals between the Ministry of Education and the contractor.
“And yet when problems crop up, people are looking for us. It’s time that we too must have the contract documents with us so that we know who to go after if problems arise,” she told reporters after chairing the Sarawak Education Consultancy Council meeting here yesterday.
Fatimah, who keeps a watching brief on education for the state as the matter falls under the purview of the federal government, said it was also important that supply of diesel and maintenance should come together in the contract.
“If you have diesel but the generator is not functioning, it also serves no purpose. Therefore, the terms and conditions of the contract must also include maintenance and not just supplying of diesel.”
She also clarified that the contract to supply diesel and maintaining generator sets in rural schools was signed between the contractor and the Ministry of Education and not between the contractor and state government or the state Education Department.
Fatimah disclosed that there were 778 generator sets in 375 rural schools in Sarawak, of which 100 needed repair and maintenance.
The Ministry of Education has appointed Bintulu-based Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd to supply diesel to 375 rural schools in Sarawak beginning January 1 this year.
The contract also includes maintaining the generator sets and installing solar hybrid systems.