KUCHING (ANN/THE STAR) – The federal government of Malaysia will reimburse MYR100 million to the state of Sarawak immediately for the upgrading of dilapidated schools and clinics in the state, said its Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar shared this during the state Gawai dinner in Kuching on Saturday night, adding that he would instruct the Finance Ministry on Monday to approve the funds.
“This will enable the projects to go ahead. Otherwise, every time I meet the Premier (Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg), he will ask about settling debts,” he quipped.
He was responding to Abang Johari’s announcement that the state government had set aside MYR200 million to implement upgrading projects for dilapidated schools and clinics.
This comes after the federal and state governments agreed earlier this year for Sarawak to provide initial financing for federal projects to speed up their implementation. The federal government would reimburse the expenses later.
In his speech, Abang Johari thanked Anwar for agreeing to the collaboration between the federal and state governments to expedite the implementation of federal projects, particularly upgrading schools and clinics, with initial funding from the state.
He said the state government was allocating MYR100 million for dilapidated schools and another MYR100 million for dilapidated clinics.
“The projects are to be implemented within 18 months. This is a good collaboration that will bring positive results in rural development,” Abang Johari shared.
