KUCHING: There is no time to politicise education, but to get to the ground to resolve the issue on the proposed RM1 billion contra loan to repair dilapidated schools in Sarawak.
Education, Science, and Technology Research Minister Datuk Seri Michael Manyin Jawong said his ministry received an official letter from the Finance Ministry and the state government has already replied, and they have agreed to meet to resolve the issue.
“With that my ministry has already made an arrangement to have a meeting with the officers from Finance and Education Ministries to resolve the issue,” he told reporters after attending the launch of the “Mind and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Festival 2019” at Chung Hua Middle School No. 1.
Manyin said the meeting would be held next week.
When asked on the statement made by Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen that the state government’s “unlawful demands” resulted in the delay of repairing dilapidated schools, he said, “It doesn’t matter, that does not solve the problem. Through newspapers it doesn’t solve the problem.
“Actually all this wouldn’t have happened if only what he said before the election — that education in Sarawak is to be given 100 percent autonomy — was made a reality, but that is not the case today,” he argued.
When reporters asked if Chong was politicising the issues, Manyin answered yes.
“Oh, yes, I think so. We don’t want to politicise education, because the children will suffer.”
