DAP MP unhappy no funds for Chinese independent high schools

 

BUDGET 2021 | A DAP lawmaker has slammed Perikatan Nasional (PN) government for not allocating funds for Chinese independent high schools in its Budget 2021 which was tabled in the Dewan Rakyat today.

In a statement, Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong said during Pakatan Harapan's era, Chinese Independent high schools were allocated RM12 million in 2019 and this increased to RM15 million under Budget 2020.

Khoo, who said he conducted a quick check on the Budget 2021's content today, said not a single sen will go to the 60 Chinese independent high schools in the country and claimed it was apparent that PN did not respect vernacular schools.

Expressing his regret over the omission, Khoo pointed the gun at MCA and demanded its president Wee Ka Siong explain to the Chinese community how the schools would face the economic fallout brought upon by the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Pakatan Harapan's efforts once again have come to nought. Where is MCA's will to protect Chinese education and Chinese independent high schools?" he asked.

Meanwhile, former deputy education minister Teo Nie Ching also took to social media to express her disappointment over the omission.

"The allocation for Chinese independent high schools is going into history after the collapse of Pakatan Harapan government," she said.

"The budget only mentioned that a total of RM800 million will be provided for the maintenance and repair of government schools and government-aided schools," she said when contacted.

As such, she concluded that privately-run Chinese independent high schools will not be entitled to the funds.

It was reported that the PN government will allocate RM50.4 billion for the Education Ministry and this accounts for 15.6 percent of next year's budget. 

Selangor exco member V Ganabatirau also questioned if any special allocation would be given for vernacular schools.

"No special budget will be allocated for these schools. Prior to this, Chinese and Tamil schools had received RM50 million respectively annually since 2013," he said.

"It is likely that the vernacular schools will not be prioritised as PN is going to give RM800 million to all schools. The PN government needs to reconsider the RM800 allocation," he told Malaysiakini.

MCA president Wee Ka Siong, however, pointed out however that no mention of Chinese independent high schools in the budget did not mean that such schools would not receive any allocation next year.

He said the RM800 million was the total allocation for all types of schools and was not for specific categories of schools only.

"Let's wait for Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz to provide an explanation in the Dewan Rakyat during the committee stage or third reading of the Budget 2021," he was quoted as saying by Sin Chew Daily. - Mkini