The Star Malaysia

MCA: Choose wisely to benefit

‘More support means stronger Chinese voice’

- By NELSON BENJAMIN nelson@thestar.com.my

JOHOR BARU: Strong support for MCA is needed for the Chinese community to have an effective voice in politics and developmen­t, said party president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

The Chinese community should also give MCA more support in the general election as Barisan Nasional had delivered on its promises, he added.

“The Opposition wants to take the Chinese support, but they are outside the administra­tion,” he said at the ground-breaking ceremony of SJK(C) Kuek Ho Yao in Seri Austin, Johor Baru.

The area is being developed by UMLand Bhd.

SJK(C) Kuek Ho Yao will be developed on a 2.43ha site. The first phase will involve 409 classrooms and a canteen.

It was the second school in the state to have its ground-breaking ceremony within 10 days.

On March 18, Liow officiated the groundbrea­king ceremony of SJK(C) Sim Mow Yu in Meridian East, which is being developed by Mah Sing Group Bhd.

Asked if they were all “goodies” tied to the general election, he replied that the planning for the schools was done a long time ago.

“After we got the 16 schools, including six relocated ones approved last year, we immediatel­y started work on them.

“We needed to form the board of governors for the schools and then work with the local authoritie­s to approve the building plans,” Liow said.

He praised the Johor government and local councils for their speedy approvals.

Johor will have five new Chinese schools and another two to be relocated. Both new schools in Johor are expected to take in their first batch of students in January 2020.

Liow also said Chinese education should not be politicise­d.

“Look at Selangor – it has yet to approve the Chinese school in Pandan, even after 10 years.

“They are using all kinds of tactics to delay the implementa­tion of Chinese schools,” he said, challengin­g Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali to approve the Pandan school.

 ??  ?? Kicking it off: Liow signing a board during the groundbrea­king ceremony for SJK(C) Kuek Ho Yao in Seri Austin, Johor Baru. Looking on is his deputy Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong and Deputy Education Minister Datuk Chong Sin Woon.
Kicking it off: Liow signing a board during the groundbrea­king ceremony for SJK(C) Kuek Ho Yao in Seri Austin, Johor Baru. Looking on is his deputy Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong and Deputy Education Minister Datuk Chong Sin Woon.

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