File photo of the dilapidated condition of the wooden structures of SK Nanga Tau, Tatau.
KUCHING: The Public Works Department Sarawak (JKR Sarawak) has refuted the claims made by former Pujut state assemblyman Dr Ting Tiong Choon that 32 schools dilapidated schools in Sarawak have been upgraded.
JKR said in a press statement that under the RM100 million package from the Ministry of Education (MoE), only 12 schools have been completed, while another 18 are due for completion by April 2020 and the remaining two have been tendered out on Feb 15.
The repair works on the 32 dilapidated schools in Sarawak is implemented by JKR Sarawak with JKR Malaysia as technical advisor.
“The 12 schools are already completed with another 18 schools due to complete by April 2020 while the last two schools have been tendered on 15 February 2020.
“Implementation of the two schools was delayed because of site constraints,” said the press statement.
JKR Sarawak said this in responding to former Pujut state assemblyman Dr Ting Tiong Choon’s post on his Facebook page with regard to the implementation of dilapidated schools in Sarawak.
Meanwhile, Dr Ting also mentioned that the RM350 million package for dilapidated school was allocated under the purview of JKR Sarawak, as agreed by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government.
With this package he said, only 37 schools are listed for upgrading with an average cost, under JKR Sarawak’s instruction, at about RM9.46 million per school.
To this JKR Sarawak said: “The RM350 million program is of conventional or IBS hybrid construction system and the scope of works include construction of administrative blocks, classroom blocks, hostels, toilets, dining halls, science room, resource room, bilik khas and quarters.
“The average cost per square metre is on the same competitive level as the RM100 million program; i.e. RM1,744 per square metre,” said the statement.
Ting also suggested that assuming the delay, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg should ask JKR Sarawak to ascertain the reason for the delay.
“JKR Sarawak has already briefed the chief minister on the status of the implementation of the RM350 million dilapidated school program in Sarawak,” said the press statement.