Govt to prioritise solving dilapidated schools issue - PM

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said today the government will prioritise the issue of dilapidated schools in the country for the welfare of students and to boost the country’s education standards.

Anwar said his federal government’s approach is to ensure all schools under their responsibility will be fixed under the 2023 Budget that will be tabled on Feb 24.

He also shared that Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek and Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin were instructed to list the dilapidated schools in need of repairs at a hi-tea with Hindu temple leaders in Seri Perdana, Putrajaya today.

"So I told the ministers, whichever dilapidated school, it should be listed, no matter what type of school, which district, and how many students. Our duty, starting this year, is to ensure special emphasis to fix all dilapidated schools in the country,” he said.

He added that there was no issue about mother tongues, but stressed that the Malay language, as the official language and national language as stipulated in the Federal Constitution, should be mastered by all Malaysians as it reflects the people’s unity and togetherness.

"The Malay language is our official language, the national language, so I’m okay with everyone using the language well. If there are Chinese, Tamil, or private schools in Malaysia planning to reduce emphasis on the national language, I won’t allow it,” he said.

Anwar said mastering other languages should be supported as it would benefit the country in terms of knowledge.

- Bernama