TAWAU: A total of 34 out of 142 Unity Kindergartens under the National Unity and Integration Department (JPNIN) in Sabah require repairs to create a conducive learning environment for children.
The National Unity Ministry (KPN) Secretary-General (KSU), Datuk Ruji Ubi, said some of the affected Unity Kindergartens are currently being upgraded through the RM5 million budget allocated this year.
According to him, KPN received a ceiling allocation of RM10 million for the repair of Unity Kindergartens nationwide under Budget 2025. However, the cash flow for these projects was only RM5 million for this year.
Therefore, he requested that projects requiring urgent repairs be prioritised under the allocated funds, as projects involving Unity Kindergartens are not as complex as other educational buildings.
“This repair work includes ceiling leaks, plumbing systems, furniture such as chairs and tables, and the installation of air conditioning systems where necessary, particularly for kindergartens in hotter climates,” he said, after officiating the Muhibbah Ramadan 2025 Programme at the Taman Semarak Jaya Open Hall, Tuesday.
Also present was JPNIN Sabah Deputy Director Esther Dingkawan.
Ruji said ensuring the comfort of Unity Kindergarten students and teachers is one of KPN’s main focuses in addressing the issue of 3Ms (“Membaca, Mengira, Menulis” / Reading, Counting, Writing) proficiency among children before entering Year One.
Besides infrastructure in Sabah, he said that teacher competency and Teaching and Learning (PDP) equipment also need improvement to address this issue at various levels.
“The prerequisite for Unity Kindergarten teachers was to have a Diploma in Early Childhood Education. However, due to certain factors, a small number have yet to receive certification or recognition for their qualifications.
“I will discuss with JPNIN directors and the director-general on how we can improve these three issues (infrastructure, teacher competency, and PDP equipment) in an effort to address the 3M proficiency issue at the Unity Kindergarten level,” he said.
He noted that data from the Malaysia Ministry of Education (KPM) last year identified 122,000 students across various grades who still faced 3M issues upon entering Year One.
According to him, if this problem is not addressed at the preschool or kindergarten level, it will be inherited by KPM, ultimately affecting children’s learning systems in schools.
Meanwhile, at the programme, Ruji distributed Bakul Rahmah RTCares donations to 30 recipients in need before carrying out the Jejak Harmoni 2025 Programme, visiting four places of worship in Tawau, which involved distributing porridge and presenting Tiffin Harmoni sets.
Earlier, he also distributed similar contributions to 50 asnaf in Kg Kuala Merotai under the 2025 Ziarah Rahmah Perpaduan Programme.
