KUCHING: More than seven years after Sarawak channeled RM1bin to the federal government to fast-track the rehabilitation of 1,200 dilapidated schools, fewer than half have been completed, says Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn.
The Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister explained that while funding remains a chronic hurdle, severe shortages of qualified contractors, skilled labor, and general workers are heavily bottlenecking progress. Furthermore, many of the most decrepit facilities require complete rebuilding rather than minor repairs, adding to project timelines.
"It's a capacity issue. We don't have enough competent contractors to secure the repair bids," Sagah said on Monday (Sept 28).
He added that even when bids are awarded to seemingly capable firms, execution failures have turned several school upgrades into "sick projects" requiring government intervention to salvage.
In 2019, the Sarawak government agreed to advance RM1bil to the federal administration—structured as a loan contra-settlement rather than a direct grant—to address the state's urgent school infrastructure needs. Sagah confirmed that this advance fund has yet to be fully exhausted.
Looking ahead to the upcoming Budget 2027, Sagah voiced hope for increased federal allocations to repair remaining dilapidated schools and construct newly requested facilities, though he remained realistic about federal disbursement limits.
"Well, I always expect a lot, but sometimes they are only great expectations that don't materialize," Sagah said. "However, I hope for the best."
