Ahmad Johnie Zawawi (GPS-Igan) lamented that complaints about crumbling schools, teacher shortages, and poor digital access had gone unanswered for years.

He said hundreds of schools in Sarawak remained unsafe or unfit for use, with 555 classified as dilapidated, including 361 unsuitable for use, and 194 deemed unsafe.

“If all the issues we raise continue to go unanswered, I might as well resign as a Friend of the Ministry,” he said while debating the Supply (Budget) Bill 2026 in the Dewan Rakyat today.

The FOM initiative, introduced by the backbenchers club earlier this year, aims to improve and empower the role of government MPs throughout the Dewan Rakyat session.

Johnie urged the ministry to formulate a Sarawak dilapidated schools master plan 2030, targeting the rebuilding of at least 100 schools a year.

“The issue of dilapidated schools is not only about infrastructure, it is about dignity, humanity, and fairness to the state,” he said.

He also criticised the slow pace of digital learning, claiming that many schools lacked smart boards, devices, and stable internet.

According to him, only 20,346 devices had been distributed to 1,459 schools – an average of just 14 devices a school, covering less than 5% of a typical student population.

Johnie further proposed that Sarawak be allowed to pre-finance school projects so work could start before federal allocations arrive, noting that the approach had sped up past infrastructure projects.

He also urged major oil, gas and plantation firms in Sarawak to adopt and repair schools under their corporate social responsibility programmes to ease reliance on federal funds.