School’s power woes may take another two months to fix

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Dr Annuar (left) clarifying the electricity problem affecting SMK Merapok. Also seen are Education, Science and Technological Research minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong and the ministry’s permanent secretary Datu Sudarsono Osman (right).

KUCHING: The government has allocated RM148,000 to fix the power outage that has crippled SMK Merapok for six months.

Assistant Education and Technological Research minister Dr Annuar Rapaee pointed out today that it will take time to solve the problem.

“The warrant has been issued to the Works Department (JKR) in April and it will take about two months to process, including the scope of works,” he clarified in a press conference at DUN Media Room.

“The tender will be out next month,” he said responding to the problem highlighted in social media that went viral yesterday.

A screenshot of the post that prompted a response from the ministers.

Dr Annuar, who is also the Nangka assemblyman, assured that the problem will be solved as soon as possible as the government has always been concerned about the welfare of students as well as education issues especially in rural areas.

A complaint directed to the state Education director Rakayah Madon that was spread on a Facebook page yesterday, pointed out the lack of urgency in addressing such crucial issue.

It revealed that the boarding school has been without electricity for nearly six months due to wiring problems.

Other than the uncomfortable environment for teaching and learning, the outage has caused the IT classes to be cancelled and thus teachers, students and parents began to feel pressured and worried.