Speaking to FMT, spokesmen for the Sarawak Teachers’ Union (STU) and two groups representing parents said they were wondering what the leaders at all levels of the education ministry had been busy with.

They were commenting on the revelation by education minister Radzi Jidin that 1,311 schools in the country were dilapidated and unsafe for use.

“There have been announcements and promises of repair works over the years, but today, we still have over a thousand schools in bad condition,” said STU president Adam Prakash Abdullah.

He urged the government to cut bureaucratic red tape and move immediately to set the situation right.

He said the constraints the education ministry had to go through in some states in dealing with school relocations and repairs were understandable, but added that it should not be “repeating that excuse” for not getting the job done.

“We would like to see our beloved senior minister walk the talk,” he said.

Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education chairman Mak Chee Kin said there was a perception that it could take years to get things done for one’s school if one did not have the right connection.

“The government should prioritise repairs to unsafe schools and cut red tape in approving funds to carry out such repairs,” he said.

Parent Action Group for Education secretary Tunku Munawirah Putra said: “Teachers and children must be assured of safe space in all its aspects and should not be subjected to dangerous work and learning conditions.”

She noted that the annual auditor-general’s reports showed many instances of a markup in quoted prices and other irregularities in the award of government projects.

“In other words, the government is paying inflated prices – using taxpayer money – for jobs that are not completed and it is also paying for jobs that are not in the approved specifications. And this practice has been going on for years,” she said.

FMT is contacting the education ministry and the Public Works Department for their comments.