Chua says to seek more aid for non-Islamic bodies, Chinese schools

KOTA KINABALU: Non-Islamic religious bodies and Chinese schools in the state might get more financial aid this year, on top of the RM19.7 million already given by the state government recently.

Kenny Chua, who was speaking in his capacity as a committee member of Parti Solidariti Tanahairku (STAR) Chinese Task Force, pledged to appeal to the state government for more financial aid for them.

“I’ll do my very best to appeal on behalf of the non-Islamic religious bodies and Chinese schools in Sabah.

“I sincerely believe they deserve to get more financial aid to ease their burden as a result from the impact of the Covid19 pandemic,” said Chua, who is also the party’s Sepanggar coordinator, after making some donations to several recipients in Inanam in conjunction with Chinese New Year on Tuesday.

During his stint as Assistant Finance Minister, Chua was the chairman of a committee that was tasked to manage the distribution of the financial aid to these bodies and schools.

He believes that the state government would consider giving more financial aid in recognition of the immense contributions of all nonIslamic religious bodies and Chinese schools to the overall development of the state.

“This government is a government for all. It doesn’t leave anyone behind,” assured Chua, adding that the recent announcement by the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) state government on a special RM100,000 allocation to 31 opposition elected representatives each so they can help their constituents was strong proof of this.

He also stressed that the state government will always work closely with all communities, especially the Chinese, to build a strong and resilient economy.

“I’ve had discussions with our leaders including our party president (Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan) all of whom are united and committed in wanting to strengthen working relationship with the Chinese community,” he added.

Of the RM19.7 million in financial aid announced by Chief Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor recently, RM13.5 million was for the development of seven national-type Chinese secondary schools, nine Chinese private secondary schools, 83 nationaltype Chinese primary schools and 142 kindergartens.

RM5.29 million had been approved, he said, for the development and repairing of 145 temples across the state, aside from an allocation of RM1 million for a number of Chinese associations to carry out activities in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration.

On another matter, Chua expressed gratitude to the federal government for revising the Chinese New Year (CNY) standard operating procedures (SOP).

The revised SOP now allows reunion dinners with family members with certain restrictions.