PAS MP wants MOE to explain RM15m for Chinese private schools

 

Pasir Mas MP Ahmad Fadhli Shaari has requested an explanation from the Education Ministry (MOE) on the allocation of RM15 million to Chinese private schools.

The PAS deputy youth chief also questioned how much allocation was channelled to private Islamic schools.

“I have sent questions for Ministers’ Question Time (MQT) which is scheduled every Tuesday and Thursday during parliamentary sessions.

“If the question arises, we are waiting for the education minister’s answer. In any case, it is an issue that needs clarification,” he said in a Facebook post today.

Earlier, Malaysiakini reported that the Finance Ministry had approved an allocation of RM15 million to 63 Chinese private schools nationwide.

The matter was revealed by Dong Zong president Tan Tai Kim to Malaysiakini and confirmed by Deputy Education Minister Mah Hang Soon.

“On Sept 23, the Finance Ministry informed that an allocation of RM15 million will be provided for 63 Chinese private schools,” Tan said.

Previously, the Tahfiz Al-Quran Madrasah Association (Permata Al-Quran) found that 64.7 percent of Islamic schools nationwide were instructed to shut down their operations.

Permata Al-Quran president, Manolito Mohd Dahlan, reportedly said the figure was based on his group’s study of 512 Islamic schools in the country.

Other than that, he explained, the study also found that 11.7 percent of religious schools had to lay off their staff while 52 percent could afford to pay only half the salary, and 34.4 percent could last no more than three months.

He added that as many as 38.1 percent did not receive assistance from the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) while 85.4 percent of Islamic schools received half their fees or less because the parents could not afford it. - Mkini