Why 'unnecessary bureaucracy' to donate to schools, asks Sim

Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim has questioned why elected representatives have to write to the Education Ministry seeking approval to donate to schools that have proactively sought contributions.

Calling it an “unnecessary bureaucracy”, Sim said he only recently found out he was required to do so after a school in his constituency approached him for donations.

He first posted about this issue on his Facebook, with an attached screenshot of a message saying any contributions from any elected representative or other donors would require a letter from the school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) asking the donor for assistance as well as a letter from the donor to the state’s Education Department director seeking approval for the donation.

“One of the schools forwarded it to me, now saying I have to write a letter if I want to give some contributions. I even received a sample letter from another MP in Penang who had done so (writing a letter for approval).

“I am an MP; if you want to do this to me, okay, also. But what about the public or corporations who want to donate for anything at all.

“It is a bureaucracy that will harm the development of our schools and will harm the education of our children,” he explained when contacted by Malaysiakini.

Sim questioned why the government wanted to exert this level of control over the schools, especially when resources are scarce and the schools are taking their own initiative.

“Schools do not have enough funding. The government is unable to help. So the schools ask for contributions from their elected representatives and the public. The elected representatives and the public agree to contribute.

“The government refuses to allow this...does the government not trust the school management to identify the needs of their respective schools?

“Surely there is no need to control headmasters and principals like they are unable to think about the welfare of the schools they lead?” he asked in his Facebook posting.

The contributions these schools are seeking are not for big projects involving the construction of new buildings, Sim said, adding that in those cases, it is obvious there would be more to the application process.

Instead, these requests are for things like installing CCTVs, repairing toilets, providing new desks and so on, he said.

It is also confusing because, in some instances, the school authorities themselves also have to write to the state’s Education Department seeking approval for the donations.

By making the process so difficult and confusing, Sim said this would discourage schools from applying for contributions.

“The ministry has to remove, once and for all, these ridiculous requirements and let the local community, the civil societies, the local representatives and corporations work together with local schools to develop the school. No politics,” he said. - Mkini