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KUCHING: A DAP member rejected a Sarawak minister's allegation against Putrajaya for turning back on repairing dilapidated schools in the state.
Kota Sentosa MP, Chong Chieng Jen, responding to a question by See Chee How (PKR-Batu Lintang) at the Sarawak meeting today, said that Putrajaya had in principle agreed that the debt of RM 1 billion vis-à-vis the federal government could be used to improve dilapidated schools in the state.
He said the issue was in a "dead end" because the Sarawak government wanted to spend the money as it pleased.
"It goes against financial procedures. You can not simply make such a payment without paying into the consolidated account, "he said.
Mr. Chong, who is also Deputy Minister of National Trade and Consumer Affairs, said that although this money comes from the Sarawak government, it is still considered a federal subsidy because it is the government's debt. the state vis-à-vis Putrajaya.
"We want more transparency in the spending of government money. We want all these projects to be realized via an open bidding system.
"You can not simply spend the money as you wish and send us an invoice stating that you have spent RM 1 billion and deducting the amount of your debts. No government will accept that.
Chong said the Sarawak government had to understand that it was a new government and that it needed to be transparent about spending.
In April, Putrajaya rejected the Sarawak government's offer of a RMB 1 billion loan to repair schools in poor condition in the state.
The money had to be repaid on the existing state government debt to the federal government.
Instead, the federal government had asked the state government to pay a "down payment" for the repair work.
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