RM12 mln for Du Zhong most welcome — Wee
KUCHING: It was the very first time the federal government had set aside a fund for Chinese independent schools ( Du Zhong), following the announcement by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng of a RM12 million allocation for these schools during the tabling of National Budget 2019 yesterday.
The Du Zhong system in Malaysia, which does not come under the national education system, was never granted any federal allocation before – until this maiden budget by the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led government.
However, their counterparts in Sarawak have been receiving annual grants from the Sarawak government since 2014, when the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem was the fifth chief minister.
We need to know the details on how it is going to be disbursed and also details about the formula for the distribution.
News about the RM12-million in federal grant for Du Zhong received warm response from Dato Richard Wee, chairman of the Board of Management of Kuching Chung Hua Middle Schools No 1, 3 and 4.
He hoped that the PH government would keep up the good work of granting funds to Du Zhong for many more years to come.
“If there is such an allocation, it is certainly welcome. Since this is the first time, I hope it would be a new beginning for more allocations to come. As for now, RM12 million for at least 60 Du Zhong is not a lot for distribution,” he said when prompted for comments after the tabling of the budget.
“In Sarawak, we get RM7 million (this year) for 14 schools. However, since it is the first- ever allocation under the national budget, we are grateful for and appreciative of this gesture.” However, Wee also wondered how the RM12 million grant would be disbursed among the Du Zhong nationwide.
“We need to know the details on how it is going to be disbursed and also details about the formula for the distribution,” he said.
Prior to the May 9 general election, PH leaders had been telling the Chinese community in Malaysia that they would implement a systematic allocation of grants for Du Zhong, apart from the promise of recognising the Unified Examination Certificate ( UEC), which is yet to be done.
In Sarawak, Adenan first pledged the annual grant for Du Zhong starting with RM3 million in 2014. The annual allocation increased by RM1 million every year, and his successor Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg carries on the policy of offering financial assistance to Du Zhong in Sarawak.
Dato Richard Wee, Board of Management of Kuching Chung Hua Middle Schools No 1, 3 and 4 chairman