DAP: Money for Chinese schools won’t work

Barisan Nasional's attempt to fish for votes through government allocations may just backfire in Sarawak.

KUCHING: The opposition DAP is far from convinced that Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s fanfare announcement of RM73.68 million for government, Chinese and missionary schools in Sarawak will sway the community’s political support.

According to Sarawak DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen it’s all “typical election goodies”.

He said with nomination day set for April 6, “all these goodies will come in the form of 1Malaysia”.

On Wednesday, Muhyiddin announced the allocation of funds for schools in Sarawak, including 1,266 government primary schools, which would receive RM28 million, followed by 130 Mission schools (RM25.68 million), and 167 Chinese aided-schools (RM20 million).

Muhyiddin said RM50,000 would be dispersed to each of the schools immediately, and the rest will follow soon.

Said Chong: “What we have been asking for is a systematic allocation of funds for Chinese and mission schools, allocated annually in the budget and not sporadic allocation of funds during or before election time.

“The intention clearly shows that they want to buy votes.”

Chong, who objected to BN’s modus operandi, said the fund allocations and manner in which they were being given before the election was simply to try and fish for votes.

“They tried in 2008 in parliamentary election in Kuching. In Sibu by-election last year they promised RM15 million to help Chinese schools, and the results failed to win support from the Chinese voters,” said Chong who is Kota Sentosa assemblyman.

Land for schools

Chong also touched on earlier pledges by the BN government to resolve land matters.

On the 2,000 hectares pledged to Chinese schools, Chong, who is also Bandar Kuching MP said: “The promise until today is still hanging in the air with no specific area mentioned and whether the title has been issued or whether there are native customary rights (NCR) land claims.

“Throughout Sarawak there are over 200 cases whereby natives are claiming their native customary rights over lands that have been encroached and illegally distinguished.

“And their lands have been alienated to oil palm plantation companies without compensation being paid to their lands.”

He also questioned the status of the land pledegd to the schools.

“Are the parcels of land identified for the Chinese schools free from this NCR land problem?

“After giving the land, are we going to fight the natives over this claim? The government must guarantee that there is no NCR claim of these land parcels” he said.

Take it back

Chong’s suggestion is that instead of 2,000 hectares that were promised, the government might as well alienate 269 acres situated at the BDC Stampin to the Chinese schools.

“Why did the government alienate the land to the company of the families of Taib Mahmud and George Chan?

“Instead the government should alienate the land to Chinese schools. Although the land size is a bit small but the land is very valuable. It is worth RM400 million.

“Take it back from Taib’s family members and refund the premium of RM80 million that they have paid and give it to the Chinese schools.

“That is my proposal,” Chong said.

Meanwhile, DAP is calling for 500 to 1,000 volunteers to come forward to help distribute pamphlets, man operations centres, and become ‘ceramah’ helpers, campaigners and polling agents and counting agents.

“They should report to the DAP headquarters in Padungan this Saturday starting from 7.30pm as this coming election is a crucial battle in Sarawak.

“It is the battle between the corrupt BN state government and DAP and good governance on the other side,” he said. - FMT