I will apologise when Chinese schools get their RM65m, DAP rep says

DAP lawmaker Ng Wei Aik has promised to apologise to Deputy Education Minister Chong Sin Woon if a RM65 million allocation for Chinese schools is distributed by next month.

Chong had claimed his ministry would be distributing the money to Chinese schools in the near future, which Ng took issue with as the money was allocated almost a year ago in Budget 2017.

"Chinese primary and secondary schools received RM50 million and RM15 million respectively, this is good news.

"Chong challenged me to apologise when the money is distributed to the schools.

"As Tanjung parliamentarian, I am willing to apologise if the money can be distributed before the school holiday in November," Ng told a press conference at Parliament today.

Ng also said he would write to Chong, who is also MCA Youth chief, and seek his permission to apologise in person at the Education Ministry.

At the press conference, he ridiculed Chong for the belated distribution by singing a Jacky Cheung song in Mandarin, the title of which translates as “I waited till the flowers withered.”

Yesterday, Chong was reported as saying that Chinese primary and secondary schools will receive the money by next month.

"We have begun processing the warrants, and expect to begin distributing the allocation to the schools by early November," he was quoted as saying in The Star.

Chong also insisted that the allocation was meant for 2017, and that funds are commonly distributed at this time of year.

There are 1,298 Chinese primary and 81 Chinese secondary schools nationwide.- Mkini