PM: Govt Treats All Schools Equally

(Bernama) -- Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak reaffirmed that the federal government under his leadership treats all streams of schools in Malaysia equally without discrimination.

He said the government would continue to support and assist both public and private education institutions in Malaysia.

"Let me reaffirm that my government is the people's government and we will treat all streams of schools in Malaysia equally without discrimination," he said in his opening speech during Han Chiang College's "Golden Achievements Awards" ceremony here on Thursday.

The text of his speech was read out by Information, Communications and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim.

Najib also said the unity of all Malaysians would assist the country to pull through the world economic crisis and set a good example to other countries in the world.

"I believe that if we work together with no racial discrimination, we would be able to move towards a fair society and become a developed country in 2020," he said.

However, Najib said educational institutions could also put in more effort to advocate racial harmony to make Malaysia a better country.

"I always uphold liberal education. For instance, in 1998, when I was the Minister of Education, I approved the establishment of Foon Yew High School's new campus in Kulai, Johor.

"Today, Foon Yew High School has become the largest Chinese school in Malaysia with nearly 10,000 students," he said, adding that Han Chiang College was set up a year later in 1999.

He said the establishment of Foon Yew High School in the south and Han Chiang College in the north proved that the government was open and supportive of Chinese education in Malaysia in line with its democratic education policies.

"I would like to congratulate Han Chiang college on its efforts and tremendous achievements in educating and nurturing talents for the country for the past ten years, especially in cultivating media pactitioners," he added.