Go to MACC, MIC tells Padnmanagan

The RM100 million allocated to partially-aided Tamil schools is managed by the Education Ministry and not MIC.

PETALING JAYA: MIC Youth today challenged a party branch leader to lodge a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on the RM100 million allocation to partially-aided Tamil schools.

“Don’t speak without facts. If you’re not happy, lodge a report with the MACC,” said MIC Youth chief T Mohan.

Yesterday, SS2 Tengah MIC branch chairman S Padnmanagan accused party president G Palanivel of depriving allocations to 145 partially-aided Tamil schools in the country.

“In the original list presented to the Cabinet in February, it was stated that RM100 million allocation would be channelled to 369 partially-aided Tamil schools nationwide for three categories, namely maintenance and upgrade, building additional blocks and building new schools.

“But in a revision done by MIC in May, the party leadership reduced the number of schools to 224 only. What happened to the rest?” alleged Padnmanagan.

The schools affected were in Johor (48 to 29), Malacca (11 to 3), Negeri Sembilan (43 to 17), Pahang (23 to 13), Perak (80 to 33), Penang (19 to 8) and Selangor (55 to 29).

Training his guns at Padnmanagan, Mohan referred to the former’s allegation as “utter nonsense.”

“MIC’s job is only to prepare the list of schools in need of aid. How the funds are managed and channelled falls under the purview of the Education Ministry,” he said.

He also defended the ministry’s decision to postpone allocation to certain schools, saying some schools needed funds more urgently than another.

“Some schools need funds to build new blocks and some may need it to repair the building’s dilapidated roof. So which one do we prioritise? Obviously, it would be the latter,” said Mohan.

For schools that have yet to receive funds, the MIC leader urged them to be patient as the ministry would channel the aid as soon as possible.

On Padnmanagan, Mohan urged the branch leader to hold discussion with the party leadership should he have any issues on how Tamil schools funds are being distributed.

“Come talk to me. Don’t simply give bad publicity on MIC just because you have personal vendetta against someone,” he said.