Maszlee clears air over ‘10+6’ issue

EDUCATION Minister Dr Maszlee Malik has cleared the air over the “10+6” Chinese primary school plan, saying the question of whether it would be scrapped does not arise.

“10+6” refers to the construction of 10 new primary schools and relocation of six existing ones, a plan that was approved by the previous administration.

In a text reply to Sin Chew Daily on Tuesday, Maszlee made it clear that he had never said the new Pakatan Harapan government wanted to scrap the “10+6” plan.

He said in fact, the Cabinet has decided to give the green light for construction work to begin on four Chinese primary schools, Sin Chew reported yesterday.

The Cabinet has also decided that construction work which has already started on six relocated schools and two new ones will carry on as scheduled.

As for the four new schools given the all-clear by the new Cabinet, Maszlee said the construction work will depend on the government’s financial situation.

However, he did not disclose the locations of the four new schools.

He said prior to this, the Cabinet has directed the Education Ministry to review the proposed new schools under the “10+6” plan for which work has not started, adding that he had discussed the matter with Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Construction work on two of the new schools, which are named after Chinese community leaders, started in March in Johor Baru.

Maszlee’s June 28 press conference on the progress of the “10+6” plan raised concerns among the Chinese community when he said eight of the proposed new schools were subject to review based on needs and the government’s financial situation, among others.

It also raised the ire of MCA deputy president and former education minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong, who sought a meeting with Maszlee over the issue.