KUALA LUMPUR: It is critical that development allocations are allotted to able contractors and the practice of rent-seeking and subcontracting is eliminated, says Parent Action Group for Education (Page) chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim.
With RM1.2bil allocated for “giant projects” to repair dilapidated schools and health clinics, Azimah and other groups said every ringgit must benefit the people.
“Jobs should be offered to contractors who are competent and efficient. It is imperative that the practice of leakages and wastage be shunned.
“Stop robbing our children. Every ringgit should benefit the student, not cronies,” Azimah said when contacted yesterday.
She agreed with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s statement that even after 60 years of Merdeka, the nation still faced the problem of dilapidated schools and clinics.
Malacca Action Group For Parents in Education (Magpie) chairman Mak Chee Kin said it was also good that the allocations were needs-based and sought to cut down all unnecessary bureaucracy.
However, he called for attention to also be given to the new Form Six colleges, which had been upgraded from the mainstream schools but whose infrastructure and facilities were unsatisfactory.
“Students have nightmares when they are sent to these so-called new colleges.
“Some of these schools’ infrastructure and facilities are even worse than those of their former schools. I hope their plight can be looked into,” said Mak.
Anwar had also announced the government’s commitment to addressing the increasing rate of road accidents.
To this end, RM2.7bil has been set aside to maintain and upgrade federal roads, another RM1.5bil to upgrade and build new rural roads, and RM100,000 for each district for pothole repairs.
A total of RM50mil has also been allotted for the immediate installation of street lights, especially in accident-prone areas, while the Malaysian Road Record Information System (Marris) grant has been increased to RM5.2bil.
Another RM300mil has also been provided for small infrastructure works for G1 to G4 contractors.
