SIBU: Work has begun on the construction of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Dudong and is progressing slightly ahead of schedule.
Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Dudong Branch chairman, Wong Ching Yong, who gave the update said efforts have also begun on eventually building Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Dudong.
“The Public Works Department (PWD) is currently conducting land surveys and preliminary planning,” he said at a press conference during a joint SUPP Dudong and SUPP Sibu Jaya’s mobile service held at Sibu Jaya’s Food Market today.
Wong, who is also Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) deputy chairman, stated that SMK Dudong, comprising 42 classrooms and other facilities, is being built by the PWD under “design and build” model.
He said the Letter of Acceptance was issued to the contractor on October 30, 2024, with the construction site handed over on November 11.
The project is expected to be completed by November 5, 2028, spanning 48 months.
“As of February 28, 2025, the actual progress stands at 3.28 per cent, slightly ahead of the original 2.13 per cent target,” he added.
Regarding SK Dudong, approved in the Fifth Rolling Plan of the 12th Malaysia Plan, he stated the school is expected to have 36 classrooms, an administrative block (including a prayer room, canteen, and hall), a preschool block, and a special education block.
“The construction of SK Dudong is also implemented by PWD.
“Preliminary work such as land surveying and planning is underway, pending approval before proceeding to the next phase,” he explained.
Wong stated that this information was obtained through a written parliamentary reply from the Education Ministry, following a query raised by SUPP Senator Robert Lau Hui Yew during the Dewan Negara debate on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s royal address.
According to him, the Education Ministry disclosed in its reply that from 2016 to March this year, 1,197 dilapidated school rebuilding projects were approved nationwide, with 737 completed, 205 ongoing, and 255 in pre-construction stages.
In Peninsular Malaysia, he noted that 399 projects were approved, with 251 completed and 79 under construction.
“Under the Fifth Rolling Plan of the 12th Malaysia Plan, the Ministry of Education has been allocated construction funding amounting to RM1.077 billion for Sabah and RM640.09 million for Sarawak.
“Additionally, the ministry clarified that teacher deployment for national schools is managed by the Education Service Commission (SPP), with assignments in Peninsular Malaysia handled by its Putrajaya headquarters, while Sarawak and Sabah (including Labuan) are managed by SPP’s respective state secretariats,” he said.
