Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Muhyiddin ayes RM2.25mil for Chinese schools


SG LIMAU BN continues to court the Chinese community in Sg Limau by pouring in more money into Chinese education ahead of polling day for the by-election on Monday.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today approved RM200,000 for the Sg Limau Chinese Education Fund.

He said this in his speech at the BN operations centre in Sungai Kering in the presence of about 1,000 people, most them from the Chinese community.

Muhyiddin 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.
Earlier in his speech, Muhyiddin said he was worried (susah hati) that Chinese education activist group Dong Zong had criticised him for not helping the community.

“Have we closed any schools? Even when they had wanted to close the SRJK (C) Damansara before, we did not close it, we built a new one,” he said.

“Why be angry with me? I don’t want the Chinese community to misunderstand the BN government. They say we have bad intentions to close down Chinese schools, it is not true,” he added.

Muhyiddin said the same group was also angry when he suggested that Chinese students learn more Malay.

He said it was not wrong to learn more languages as a Chinese, just like the Malays, can never forget their mother tongue language until the day they die.

“I was shocked that they thought I meant throwing away the Chinese language. What’s wrong to suggest that they learn to speak other languages?” he asked.

At a press conference during the event, Muhyiddin was asked if the financial aid amounted to a “bribe”.

The education minister denied the matter, saying, “Since they asked for help, we help”.

Muhyiddin also refused to comment on whether the aid is conditional on BN winning the seat, adding that the money has been approved.
The DPM also reminded the community that the Education Ministry spends RM1.8 billion alone to pay for the salaries of Chinese school teachers.

“So if the opposition say we don’t support Chinese school, don’t believe them.

“If we do not care, we will say we do not have money. We do not only help but want to make sure that Chinese education continues,” assured Muhyiddin.

‘Chinese community still split’

Met at the event, local voter Ng Lay Beng was grateful for Muhyiddin’s support but says the Chinese community was still split over who to vote for.

NONE“It’s still 50-50. But iif we can get 150 or more to return to the BN fold, perhaps they can win with a simple majority,” said Ng, 60 (right).

“The door is open for BN although I do not have much hope for MCA,” he added.

When asked why has he expressed lack of confidence in MCA, Ng said local leaders were only visible when big shots from BN come around.

“Otherwise they would be sleeping. When we call them for help before, they always say, ‘Don’t know’,” lamented Ng, who helps his son run a furniture shop.

“I am always for BN though. PAS? Don’t even mention it. There is nothing to say,” he stressed.

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