KUCHING: The Sarawak government is hopeful that Putrajaya would continue the diesel subsidies to the 21 affected schools in Sarawak.
In this regard, Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Dato Sri Michael ManyinJawong said he recently met the officials from the federal Ministry of Education to discuss the matter.
“The subsidies are supposed to last up to March this year. I have appealed to the Ministry of Education — the outcome is very positive.
“We are positive that the supply of diesel to those schools would not be terminated,” he told reporters after attending a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg at Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) headquarters off Jalan Bako here yesterday.
Met post-conference, Abang Johari said the Sarawak government was concerned about the diesel subsidies made available to schools across Sarawak.
He opined that the federal government should not cease providing such subsidies, in view of the importance of education for young Sarawakians.
Abang Johari, who is chairman of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) – Sarawak’s ruling coalition – and also PBB president, said Sarawak government would look forward to Putrajaya granting the fund meant for connecting all the schools in Sarawak to the power grid, should the federal government decide to discontinue the diesel subsidies.
Meanwhile, Manyin said Sarawak would have no alternative plan if Putrajaya really decided to cut off these subsidies.
It is informed that the diesel subsidies cost about RM5 million a year.
“It is not one-off and can go on for the next 10 years,” said Manyin, adding that the current and only diesel supplier, who is now facing a court case, has signed a three-year contract worth RM1.29 billion.
According to him, the 21 affected schools are all aided Chinese primary schools and mission schools.
In Sarawak alone, a total of 271 schools – all ‘sekolah kebangsaan’ (SKs) – are presently receiving the diesel subsidies from the federal government.
“It’s just that the 21 affected schools are aided Chinese and mission schools. The rest are SKs,” added Manyin.