GE13 – In the Chinese Press: Dong Zong slams Muhyiddin for misleading community

UNITED Chinese School Committees Association (Dong Zong) has criticised caretaker Minister of Education Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for attempting to fish for votes by misleading the Chinese, according toOriental Daily News.

 

When giving a speech in an event in Kuching on April 13, Muhyiddin claimed that the government has never neglected Chinese schools and he pledged to include the education expenses for vernacular schools in the annual national budget if Barisan Nasional retains power in the coming general election. 

 

Dong Zong secretary-general Poh Chin Chuan pointed out that Chinese primary school is an important entity in our education system, it is entitled to obtain both administration and development funds under the Education Act 1996.

 

Hence its expenses should be included in the Malaysia Plan and annual budget, he said in a statement yesterday, adding that it is government's responsibility to give vernacular schools fair treatment.

 

He is of the view that Muhyiddin's statement shows that the government has grossly neglected its duty. 

 

"Muhyiddin said, only if BN wins the election will it put Chinese schools and other schools' education allocation into the budget. This reveals that the government has grossly neglected its duty and has been exploiting the legitimate rights of the schools." 

 

Poh said the unification policy implemented by Ministry of Education has caused the marginalisation of Chinese schools. The percentage of development funds for Chinese schools stated in the 8th and 9th Malaysia Plan, which are 2.44% and 3.6% respectively, have shown Chinese schools are being treated unfairly. 

 

Meanwhile chairman for Lim Lian Geok Fund Datuk Dr Toh Kin Woon also criticised Muhyiddin for making vague statements. 

 

He said Muhyiddin merely promised to include education allocation for national-type schools in the national budget but he did not promise to ensure fair implementation.

 

Hence, Toh said it is not a sincere pledge but an empty promise which is meant to gain Chinese support before the general election.

 

Khalid will become finance minister?

 

Caretaker Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim will be appointed as finance minister if the opposition coalition wins the general election. The vacant Selangor MB post will then be taken up by PKR deputy president Azmin Ali.

 

A source told Sin Chew Daily that PKR has discussed the possible candidates for the MB post. 

 

There are two scenarios being taken into consideration: firstly, Pakatan Rakyat wins both federal and Selangor; secondly, the coalition only retains power in Selangor but fails to win enough seats to form federal government.

 

If the first scenario plays out, then Khalid would be the best choice for finance minister as he is expert in the field. In which case, Azmin will be named as the MB candidate.

 

If second scenario turns out, then Khalid will remain as MB.

 

Apart from that, the paper said Pakatan has reached a consensus to select former Perak MB Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin as MB again if the coalition manages to win back the state in the upcoming election. - fz.com