STALLED SCHOOL PROJECT GETS RM65 MILLION SPECIAL ALLOCATION

-PRESENTLY, 200 SMK SENI KUCHING'S STUDENTS HAD NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO CONTINUE ON THEIR "LONG-OVERDUE-STAY" AT SMK TAHO WHERE THEY HAD BEEN SHELTERING ALL THIS WHILE

RAHMAN & JUNAIDI AT THE IAB MEETING ROOM DURING THE BRIEFING ON THE DESIGN PRESENTATION & BRIEFING SESSION YESTERDAY

THE Federal Government had recently approved a special allocation of RM65 million to complete the construction of SMK Seni Kuching which was stalled since the year 2008 due to some "technical problems" faced by the main contractor of the project.

“Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also Minister of Finance had officially given his approval on the allocation for SMK Seni Kuching on last January 12^th following from a four-eye meeting relating on the (school) matter between the Premier and me at his office in Putra Jaya earlier on December 26^th, last year.”

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Datuk Dr Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar disclosed this adding among the matter he had discussed with Najib were on the importance of completing the “abandoned” school project as soon as possible and also on some of the problems which had then arising due to the setback and delay of the project.

“The stalled construction works on the project had resulted all of the present SMK Seni Kuching’s students, numbering more than 200 students had no other choice but to continue on their “long-overdue stay” at the SMK Tun Abang Haji Openg where they had been sheltering all this while.”

Junaidi, who is also Member of Parliament (MP) or Santubong said this during the briefing session conducted by the project consultant of SMK Seni Kuching; Arkitek KM Sdn Bhd in the meeting room at the Institute Aminuddin Baki (IAB) at Jalan Santubong near the city here yesterday morning.

“And of course, when on “a transit” on the other school, all the resources and facilities to students of SMK Seni Kuching is very limited and restricted,” he said adding that as an MP for Santubong, the constituency where the SMK Seni Kuching is located, he really looks on the matter very seriously.”

In addition, Junaidi is also optimistic and convince that upon completion, SMK Seni Kuching, being the only major art schools in Sarawak and the second school of its kind in Malaysia (after the one in Johor Baru) will be able to contribute directly to the positive development of a formal art education in the state.

Recognizing this, Junaidi brought this matter to the attention of the Prime Minister who then had directed Minister in the Prime Minister Office Tan Sri Mohd Nor Yaakob to secure the RM65 million special allocation of RM65 million to be channeled to the Ministry of Education Malaysia as the project implementing agency.

When asked whether there would be on the action to be taken on the contractor of the SMK Seni Kuching on the failure of completing the project accordingly in the stipulated period, dragging and delaying it for years, Junaidi gave his assurance that he will not leave “any stones unturned”over the matter.

Although the new dateline for the school to be fully completed is still not yet ascertained, the premises, which is located in the neighboring vicinity of IAB along the main road of Jalan Santubong is initially expected to begin its operation within two years.

Apart from being equipped with the latest music equipment and electronic gadgets, the school is also accommodated which 15 classrooms, auditoriums, halls, living quarters for the school staffs, hostel for 600 students and other facilities in the 23 acres compound.

Also present at the briefing session were Pantai Damai State Legislative Assemblyman Dr Haji Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Santubong Pemanca Rashidi Junai, Arkitek KM Sdn Bhd Director Chan Kheng Leong and other invited guests.

-UnReportedNews™®