KUCHING: Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau said Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Deputy Minister Chong Chieng Jen, being a member of the federal cabinet should be the one to fight for federal budget for the repair and upgrading of dilapidated schools across the state of Sarawak.
Dennis said Chong knows very well that education is under the federal government’s purview.
“Being a member of the federal cabinet from Sarawak, he should be the one to fight for the budget to repair dilapidated schools in Sarawak,” Dennis said when asked to comment on Chong’s statement that the state government should utilise its reserves of RM34 billion to repair and upgrade dilapidated schools across Sarawak.
Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Youth secretary Milton Food in response to Chong’s statement had told Chong to “use his brain” before asking the Sarawak government to utilise its loaded reserve of RM34 billion to repair and upgrade dilapidated schools across the state.
According to Dennis, the state will not use its reserves because the reserves are for future use.
“We never use our reserves because the reserves are for proper use. So far we have not used the reserves because the state government has the skills to manage our finance professionally.
“The State Budget 2019 announced by the Chief Minister recently did not touch a single sen of our reserves,” Dennis said.
“Hopefully, Chong will discharge his duty as member of the federal cabinet from Sarawak with all honesty. As member of the federal cabinet from Sarawak it is his duty to fight for what is good for Sarawak,” Dennis added.
Dennis said in his constituency there are altogether 26 primary schools and about 90% of these schools are dilapidated. “From what I see all our schools are in dilapidated condition,” he said.
However, according to Dennis, none of these schools have been forced to close down athough they are in dilapidated condition. He also said there are also not enough teachers’ quarters and teachers have to share quarters.
According to Dennis, sometimes he had to use his minor rural projects (MRP) funds for their quarters’ repairs.
