'Sekolah pondok allocation reflects commitment to Islamic education'

The allocation of RM25 million for sekolah pondok reflects the government's commitment towards Islamic education, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said.

Lim today handed over a mock cheque for the sum to de facto Islamic Affairs Minister Mujahid Yusof Rawa in a ceremony at the Finance Ministry headquarters in Putrajaya.

This, he said, was the Pakatan Harapan government’s practise of an open mind approach towards the Islamic education system that underscores progression and quality.

The allocation was given in a lump sum rather than in phases, he said.

"This shows that the government is committed towards Islamic education in line with the Constitution. As Mujahid always said, the government is being open minded towards the Islamic education system that is progressive and of high quality.

"Today, the MOF is handing over RM25 million in a lump sum to Mujahid. We only allocate the money but Mujahid will decide the distribution. MOF does not state any rules for the distribution," Lim added.

'No political elements in education'

He went on to declare that there must be no political elements in the education system, as well as in business.

"Schools cannot be owned by political parties or politicians," he said.

Muhajid explained that the fund would be distributed to about 228 schools nationwide and he went on to echo Lim's view that the education sector must be free from political elements.

"I strongly agree with his view that important sectors such as education must be free from politics. This includes mosques. That is the new government's policy," he said.

On another matter, Lim denied the claim by Sarawak that the state has no outstanding debt with the federal government.

"That is disputed. The record shows that there are arrears in loan repayment," he said.

The Sarawak Chief Minister's office said in a statement yesterday that the Sarawak government has been repaying its loan to the federal government in accordance with its repayment schedule.

"In fact, Sarawak is one of the states which has no outstanding/arrears in loan repayment. This has been reported by the Auditor-General's Department in its annual report and presented to the National Finance Council," it said.

Lim also claimed that the state had been lying when it allegedly accused the federal government of paying Sabah the tourism tax revenue but not to Sarawak.

Yesterday, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Christina Liew (photo), who is also Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, clarified that Sabah has yet to receive its 50 percent share of the tourism tax revenue from the federal government.

Liew was said to be referring to a statement by Sarawak Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah that Sabah had received the tourism tax from the federal government.

Referring to Liew's statement, Lim wondered whether Sarawak would admit to its mistake.

"Will the Sarawak government admit their mistake? But that is Sarawak. They will never admit. They would rather make false allegations to achieve their objective. I understand that the state election is in two years' time.

"You can criticise, but it must be based on facts and figures. Don't be like the (former prime minister) Najib (Abdul Razak)," Lim said. - Mkini