RM32 mln for religious bodies, schools soon
KOTA KINABALU: The State Government is expected to disburse its annual allocation of RM32 million to non-Islamic religious bodies, Chinese schools and mission schools from next month, said Minister of Special Tasks Datuk Teo Chee Kang.
He said the State Government hoped to complete the disbursement of funds by the end of September this year so that the schools would have time to plan ahead for their maintenance or development projects to be carried out during the year-end holidays.
Teo, who chairs the State Government Annual Allocation for Non-Islamic Religious Bodies, Chinese and Mission Schools Committee, said the allocation would be disbursed in Kota Kinabalu, Kudat, Sandakan, Keningau and Tawau.
He said the schools had requested the State Government to disburse the allocation as soon as possible in order for them to prepare for construction or maintenance of projects during the year-end school holidays.
“It is indeed a little late to disburse the allocation in November last year, so we hope to get it done by September this year,” Teo said after leading his committee members to inspect nine schools and non-Islamic religious bodies in Kota Kinabalu and Penampang yesterday.
He said the State Government had moved the application deadline for the annual allocation for nonIslamic religious bodies, Chinese and mission schools from the end of May last year to the end of April this year.
“The committee has held five meetings to evaluate the applications and we have reached the final stage of our work.”
Teo said the “turun padang” inspection by the committee was necessary to understand the actual needs of the religious bodies or schools, as well as because some applicants have failed to submit their report on how last year’s allocation had been utilized.
In the process of evaluating the applications from religious bodies, Teo said the committee still found some places of worship to be under private property ownership or located in housing estates.
“We cannot approve places of worship that are operating out of private properties or residential areas.”
On another note, Teo said the State Government could not satisfy all requests as the demand for allocation had exceeded the RM32 million budget.
He urged the non-Islamic religious bodies, Chinese and mission schools that received the allocation to put the funds into good use.
Teo also reminded religious bodies and schools not to engage in contractor-driven applications for the State Government’s allocation.
He pointed out that some religious bodies or schools actually did not require maintenance or development but deliberately concocted a project in order to apply for the allocation.
“That is why we have to be very cautious in evaluating the applications.”
He said schools or religious bodies that were not in urgent need of the funds should also give others the opportunity to apply for the State Government’s financial assistance.
The committee members who were present at the inspection include Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Edward Yong Oui Fah, State Assistant Finance Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Michael Asang, Deputy Permanent Secretary to the State Finance Ministry Datuk Peter Thien, Assistant Education Director of Sabah Tham Yun Fook, the Association of Sabah National Type Chinese School Management Committee president Ben Lim Kiat Kong and Sabah Chinese Primary School Working Committee president Datuk William Chu, Political Secretary to the Minister Peter Chong and Liaison Secretary to the Minister Albert Kok. The committee has visited SJK(C) Che Hwa Kolombong, SM All Saints, SJK(C) Chung Hwa Likas, SJK(C) St James, SM Shan Tao, SM Kian Kok, Kota Kinabalu High School, St Michael Church at Kampung Kambau, Penampang and Baptist Retreat Centre at Jalan Kiansom.
Alos present was Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Datuk Michael Lui.