SARAWAK’S Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Roland Sagah today mocked the RM920 million in the revised Budget 2023 to upgrade and repair infrastructure in 380 dilapidated schools in Sabah and Sarawak.

He described the amount as “peanuts”.

“That’s peanuts,” he told reporters after handing out cheques for the repair of Anglican mission schools under the Kuching diocese.

“The amount is quite disappointing. As we all know there are many dilapidated schools.

“We have more than 1,000 dilapidated schools in Sarawak,” Sagah said.

Sagah, referring to the RM1 billion loan Sarawak offered to the then Pakatan Harapan government in 2019, said it could only cover the rebuilding of about 100 schools.

“So this one (the 2023 allocation) is just too little. But like I said, we are grateful there is some allocation made for it.”

Sagah is however optimistic some MPs would argue on that amount and request for more.

“This budget is not approved yet. The debate is ongoing (in the Dewan Rakyat).”

He nonetheless said that in future, Putrajaya would give more.

“Sarawak deserves it. We contributed (much) to the federal coffers.” – March 2, 2023.