MP claims Putrajaya revoked RM300m meant for Sabah school infrastructure

PARLIAMENT | Wilfred Madius Tangau (Upko-Tuaran) claimed that the Finance Ministry had withdrawn more than RM300 million in allocations meant for Sabah school infrastructure projects and harbours plans to withdraw even more.

Speaking during the royal address debate in the Dewan Rakyat today, the Sabah deputy chief minister called for urgent attention to be paid to dilapidated schools in the state.

“I have been informed that the federal Finance Ministry has decided to withdraw at least RM300 million that had been reserved for school infrastructure (projects) in Sabah.

“After the Sabah government, through the state education ministry, asked for the allocations to be implemented, I understand that an additional RM104 million still would be withdrawn on the grounds (the projects) can’t be implemented in time,” Wilfred (photo, above) claimed.

He urged that priority should be given to schools which have been declared as unsafe to make sure that no catastrophic incidents happen at those schools.

Earlier during his speech, he shared that local authorities in Sabah recently issued RM12 million worth of compound notices to “at least six schools” because they were built without a “development plan”.

“It is clear that important matters like infrastructure and student safety are ignored in the administration of this country, especially in the education sector,” he remarked.

Sabah has autonomy over its borders and health but education matters in the state are administered by Putrajaya.

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