Lack of funds causing delays in school repairs
KUALA LUMPUR: Some dilapidated school buildings have remained unrepaired for as long as 12 years as the Education Ministry lacked the funds, says the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

PAC chairman Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said the ministry had to prioritise other schools that were more in need, causing the delays in the execution of upgrading projects.

“Through the proceedings held (with the ministry), the PAC found out that there were school buildings that had been identified and recommended as unfit by the Public Works Department.

“However, no action has been taken.

“For example, there was a building that has been left unrepaired for 12 years despite having been recommended (for upgrades).

“The PAC was informed that this was due to a lack of funds, which forced the ministry to choose other schools first depending on the situation and critical levels,” she told reporters at the Parliament media centre yesterday.

The PAC has put forward four recommendations for the ministry to achieve and report to the committee within two months, she added.

Mas Ermieyati said while the deadline was not an ultimatum, it was needed to measure whether the ministry complies with the recommendations and for further actions from the PAC.

She said that during the proceedings held with the ministry on Jan 17, it was found that there were 267 project applications by dilapidated schools that were proposed to the Economy Ministry and 249 were approved.

“The establishment of a Special Taskforce on Public Sector Reform and monitoring by the Education Ministry were initiated to ensure ongoing projects are not delayed.

“For applications that have yet to be presented to or approved by the Economy Ministry, the Education Ministry has made sure maintenance efforts were taken to keep the building safe for students,” the Masjid Tanah MP said.

According to the Auditor-General’s Report, only 411 (27.3%) out of 1,505 dilapidated schools have submitted upgrading applications, with 398 of them having been approved.

However, only 123 projects have been completed.
KUALA LUMPUR: Some dilapidated school buildings have re­mained unrepaired for as long as 12 years as the Education Ministry lacked the funds, says the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).