The construction of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Nabalu in Tuaran will start early next month, Deputy Education Minister Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said today.
The Ministry of Finance had appointed the contractor on May 24 and the project was expected to be completed in two years, he said.
He was speaking to reporters during his visit to Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Pulau Gaya.
According to Mohd Puad, technical issues beyond the ministry’s control caused the project’s delay.
“In December 2009, the consultant presented a RM75.2 million design, totally exceeding our budget,” he said.
“Then in February last year, they came up with a RM66.6 million plan,” he added, explaining the approved budget was RM35 million.
Mohd Puad was clarifying the situation after the state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, Datuk Masidi Manjun, who is in charge of education, requested the issue to be resolved this year.
Meanwhile, Mohd Puad said the repair works of the jetty at SK Pulau Gaya and SMK Pulau Gaya would begin next month.
He said the ministry would use the emergency allocation to speed up the repair.
“We have to act fast because we are worried that any delay will affect the school buildings which are built on water,” he told reporters after inspecting the jetty.
He said the ministry would meet the construction consultant to finalise the total cost.
The ministry would also carry out maintenance works for the school building and rebuild the teacher’s quarters and provide electric generators for both schools.
There are about 1,000 students in SK Pulau Gaya and 500 students in SMK Pulau Gaya.
– Bernama
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