SG LIMAU BN leaders have been slammed for illogically allocating RM1 million to a SJK (C) Aik Min in Sungai Limau that only has 15 students.
PAS by-election operations director Amiruddin Hamzah said he was not objecting to the government helping Chinese schools, but he questioned why such a huge amount was being given now, and that too to a school with just 15 students.
Amiruddin pointed out that Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir had earlier refused to continue the previous PAS-led state government's effort in giving annual institutional allocations to independent Chinese schools.
"Previously, he (Mukhriz) said he will not give a single sen to the Chinese independent schools. But why now, to other small schools... I leave this to the people's imagination, whether this is logical or not," he told a press conference today.
Amiruddin, a state executive councillor under the previous PAS state government, said the state then allocated RM70,000 annually to the three Chinese independent schools that are not subsidised by the federal administration.
Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin approved RM200,000 for the Sungai Limau Chinese Education Fund.
Muhyiddin announced this in his speech at the BN operations centre in Sungai Kering, in the presence of about 1,000 people, mostly from the Chinese community.
He also approved funds for three Chinese schools, including RM1 million for SRJK (C) Aik Min, RM1 million for SRJK (C) Yuk Meng in Sg Limau Dalam and RM50,000 for SRJK (C) Pek Hwa.
Mukhriz changes his tone
In September, Mukhriz had reportedly said that he would not entertain requests from Chinese schools in the state, as he could not help those who did not support the BN in the last general election.
This was followed by a statement from him last Friday that the Sungai Limau by-election was the best opportunity for the Chinese to prove that they supported the BN.
Later, Mukhriz (right) changed his tone by assuring the Chinese that hewould indeed help the community.
PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub, who was also present during the press conference, said the government should distribute funds to all types of school, including Chinese independent schools, Tamil schools and religious schools without getting government subsidy.
He had questioned the intention of the government for helping the small schools now so close to the by-election, stating the move was unfair.
“Why now (by-election) but not in real time?”
Fellow PAS vice-president Mahfuz Omar said he believed the Chinese possessed the wisdom to judge racial tactics employed by BN.
He added that the Chinese community would not simply change their stance and vote for BN just because of the allocation.
Don't use education to bait voters
Meanwhile, PKR assemblyperson Dr Xavier Jayakumar (left) said the BN government acted irresponsibly with Muhyiddin's allocationof RM2.25 million for the Chinese schools in Sungai Limau.
"Because of its lust and greed for power, BN has not weighed the long-term impact of such actions," Xavier, who is the Seri Andalas (Klang) assemblyperson, said in a statement.
He reminded the government that education policies were not fanciful short-term projects but a long-term effort to raise a skilled workforce to serve the country.
"Making education a quick project to bait votes during elections has to be stopped immediately. The focus needs to be on careful planning to meet real needs," Xavier said.
PAS by-election operations director Amiruddin Hamzah said he was not objecting to the government helping Chinese schools, but he questioned why such a huge amount was being given now, and that too to a school with just 15 students.
Amiruddin pointed out that Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir had earlier refused to continue the previous PAS-led state government's effort in giving annual institutional allocations to independent Chinese schools."Previously, he (Mukhriz) said he will not give a single sen to the Chinese independent schools. But why now, to other small schools... I leave this to the people's imagination, whether this is logical or not," he told a press conference today.
Amiruddin, a state executive councillor under the previous PAS state government, said the state then allocated RM70,000 annually to the three Chinese independent schools that are not subsidised by the federal administration.
Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin approved RM200,000 for the Sungai Limau Chinese Education Fund.
Muhyiddin announced this in his speech at the BN operations centre in Sungai Kering, in the presence of about 1,000 people, mostly from the Chinese community.He also approved funds for three Chinese schools, including RM1 million for SRJK (C) Aik Min, RM1 million for SRJK (C) Yuk Meng in Sg Limau Dalam and RM50,000 for SRJK (C) Pek Hwa.
Mukhriz changes his tone
In September, Mukhriz had reportedly said that he would not entertain requests from Chinese schools in the state, as he could not help those who did not support the BN in the last general election.
This was followed by a statement from him last Friday that the Sungai Limau by-election was the best opportunity for the Chinese to prove that they supported the BN.
Later, Mukhriz (right) changed his tone by assuring the Chinese that hewould indeed help the community.PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub, who was also present during the press conference, said the government should distribute funds to all types of school, including Chinese independent schools, Tamil schools and religious schools without getting government subsidy.
He had questioned the intention of the government for helping the small schools now so close to the by-election, stating the move was unfair.
“Why now (by-election) but not in real time?”
Fellow PAS vice-president Mahfuz Omar said he believed the Chinese possessed the wisdom to judge racial tactics employed by BN.
He added that the Chinese community would not simply change their stance and vote for BN just because of the allocation.
Don't use education to bait voters
Meanwhile, PKR assemblyperson Dr Xavier Jayakumar (left) said the BN government acted irresponsibly with Muhyiddin's allocationof RM2.25 million for the Chinese schools in Sungai Limau. "Because of its lust and greed for power, BN has not weighed the long-term impact of such actions," Xavier, who is the Seri Andalas (Klang) assemblyperson, said in a statement.
He reminded the government that education policies were not fanciful short-term projects but a long-term effort to raise a skilled workforce to serve the country.
"Making education a quick project to bait votes during elections has to be stopped immediately. The focus needs to be on careful planning to meet real needs," Xavier said.
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