Balingian rep calls for urgent intervention to revive ‘sick’ SMK Balingian project

Balingian assemblyman Dr Abdul Yakub Arbi. Photo credit: Sarawak Information Department (Japen)

By Amanda L

KUCHING, Oct 14: The construction of SMK Balingian, which has been categorised as a “sick project”, needs urgent intervention to get it back on track, says Balingian assemblyman Dr Abdul Yakub Arbi.

Debating the Sarawak Budget 2027 at the State Legislative Assembly (DUS) sitting today, he called on the implementing agencies to prioritise the project, speed up construction and provide a clear completion schedule.

“I hope the implementing agencies will give this project priority, accelerate its completion and ensure there is a clear timeline so that it will not face prolonged delays,” he said.

He also stressed that the effectiveness of the state budget should be assessed based on its implementation and the benefits delivered to the people, rather than the size of its allocations alone.

“The success of Sarawak Budget 2027 should not be measured solely by the amount allocated, but by how effectively projects are implemented and how far the benefits are felt by the people,” he stressed.

He called for completed projects to be recognised, ongoing works to be monitored closely and projects still in the planning stage to be expedited.

Dr Abdul also urged the state government to continue strengthening rural infrastructure, particularly access to clean water, electricity and telecommunications.

He said better roads, training, improved productivity and market access were also necessary to strengthen agriculture and local entrepreneurship, ensuring development translated into higher incomes and better living standards for rural communities.

SMK Balingian was expected to address the need for secondary education facilities closer to home for students in the area, with the Education Ministry issuing the project tender on Sept 8, 2021, according to a previous DayakDaily report.

The project comprises a 24-classroom school building, a hostel with capacity for about 400 students and related facilities at Lot 11, Block 3, Balingian Land District. At the time, the nearest secondary school was in Mukah, about an hour’s journey from Balingian. —DayakDaily