KOTA KINABALU: The Education Ministry will coordinate with relevant agencies to ensure that all repair works related to dilapidated schools in Sabah are implemented effectively.
Its secretary-general Datuk Ruji Ubi said despite Sabah receiving RM1 billion out of the RM6.3 billion allocation for the ministry, it was important to focus on the proper implementation of infrastructure development.
He said the RM1 billion allocation would cover several types of school projects, including regular ones, those currently under development and dilapidated schools. He added that 122 dilapidated school projects have been approved for implementation this year, with 52 of these projects located in Sabah.
"The allocation is large but implementing it and spending that money is another matter we must oversee. The implementation must be ensured because there are three agencies involved in Sabah, based on the allocation for each project," he said after attending a mock cheque presentation ceremony at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sembulan here.
The three entities are the Sabah Public Works Department, the Malaysian Public Works Department (JKR) in the education works branch, and the development division at the Education Ministry.
"After this, I will have a meeting with Sabah JKR to ensure that the more than 50 projects in Sabah are implemented this year."
Ruji also said that there were still 482 dilapidated schools that required funds for facilities to be upgraded or rebuilt.
Present at the event were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya and State Education Director Datuk Raisin Saidin.