‘Funds for schools in the future’
Chinese institutions will receive allocations in next Budgets, says Liow
BENTONG: The funds for the 10 new Chinese primary schools and relocation of six schools will be allocated in the coming Budgets, says MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
“These schools will be constructed in the next two to three years. Therefore, it is unfair for Lim Guan Eng to claim the Government left out the funds in Budget 2018,” he told reporters after launching the Negaraku Sehati@RTM programme at SJK(C) Khai Mun, Chamang here yesterday.
The announcement of the 10 new Chinese primary schools and relocation of six schools on Thursday came a day ahead of the tabling of Budget 2018.
Liow said Lim, who is Penang Chief Minister, was being “sour grapes” on MCA’s achievements and was trying to divert attention from his own problems in Penang.
“The Government will give us support on funding. MCA is tasked for the funding. We will organise and coordinate the related matters,” he added.
Liow said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had announced a lot of good initiatives for the people from all walks of life in the inclusive Budget 2018, but Lim chose to ignore them.
“Dong Zong, Jiao Zong and leaders from the Chinese community are giving full support to MCA to fight for more Chinese primary schools. But, unfortunately, Lim was trying to find fault deliberately to attack the party,” he said.
Dong Zong is the United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia while Jiao Zong is the United Chinese School Teachers Association of Malaysia.
Liow said the construction cost for each school would be different, depending on the location and size.
Later, he witnessed the “Agriculture 4.0-Bentong Ginger R&D” MoU signing ceremony between Dongguan Institute of Opto- Electronics of Peking University and Tunku Abdul Rahman University College in research and development on Bentong ginger and leveraging on Smart Farmbox system.
In Alor Gajah, MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong urged party grassroots leaders to focus on improving the quality of education in the Chinese primary schools.
He advised them to disregard negative comments regarding the approval for the 10 schools.
“Just concentrate on improving the quality of education in Chinese schools,” he told reporters after closing the Melaka Chinese primary schools teacher training seminar here yesterday.
Dr Wee said the Opposition would never be happy with whatever the Government does, and would find things to criticise.