Scrapping of 80% funds ruling for projects will benefit Chinese schools — Teo

KOTA KINABALU: The Federal Government’s decision to scrap the ruling that requires schools to raise at least 80 per cent of the funds for their construction projects before applying for the Education Ministry’s approval to start the projects will be beneficial for the development of Chinese schools, said the Minister of Special Tasks Datuk Teo Chee Kang.

Teo welcomed the good news yesterday, saying that the move showed that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was willing to listen to the Chinese community.

Teo said this after leading the State Government Annual Allocation for NonIslamic Religious Bodies, Chinese and Mission Schools Committee to inspect nine schools and religious bodies in Kota Kinabalu and Penampang.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong announced that the Federal Cabinet had decided to do away with the ruling in the meeting on Wednesday.

Teo, who is also president of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), said the party through its Education Bureau had submitted a memorandum on the issue to Najib in the party congress last year.

“I have also personally conveyed to the Prime Minister that this condition was too stringent and would hinder the development of hard infrastructure in schools.”

He said donors would usually contribute only after the schools had started their construction projects.

“As such, the Federal Government’s decision to do away with the ruling would benefit the development of schools, especially Chinese schools,” Teo said.