Sabah’s annual allocation to non-Islamic bodies highest – Teo

KOTA KINABALU: The state government’s allocation for nonIslamic religious bodies, Chinese and mission schools, as well as sponsorship of lion heads should not be taken for granted.

Minister of Special Tasks Datuk Seri Panglima Teo Chee Kang said the Barisan Nasional (BN) government in Sabah practised moderation whereby differences in race, culture and religion were not only accepted, but celebrated in the state.

Each year, he said the state government allocated RM32 million for non-Islamic religious bodies, Chinese primary schools, independent secondary schools, conforming schools, mission schools and kindergartens.

“Sabah is the first state (in Malaysia) to provide annual allocation to Chinese schools, mission schools and non-Islamic religious bodies systematically every year.”

He said the amount allocated by the Sabah state government for this purpose was the highest compared to other states.

To his knowledge, Teo said the Sabah BN government’s support towards lion dance culture was not seen in other states as well.

As such, he said the state government’s allocation for nonIslamic religious bodies, Chinese and mission schools, as well as the provision of lion heads, should not be taken for granted.

Teo said this during the presentation of 30 lion heads to lion dance troupes from the west coast south, including Kota Belud, Tuaran, Kota Kinabalu, Putatan, Papar, Beaufort, Mesapol, Sipitang and nearby districts here yesterday.

He said the state government had approved an allocation of RM 150,000 for the sponsorship of lion heads this year, an increase from RM 100,000 in previous years.

Teo thanked Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman for increasing the allocation for this purpose.

“With the increase of funding to RM150,000, we are able to give away 60 lion heads to lion dance troupes all over Sabah this year.”

He also urged the recipients to make good use of the lion heads to promote the lion dance culture in Sabah.

The 60 lion heads are distributed to west coast south (30), Kudat and Kota Marudu (5), Tenom, Keningau and Tambunan (5), Sandakan (15), Tawau and Lahad Datu (5) respectively.

Also present at the event were Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Edward Yong Oui Fah, Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Pang Yuk Ming, Sabah MCA deputy president Datuk Francis Goh, United Sabah Chinese Communities Association of Kota Kinabalu (USCCAKK) president Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen, Luyang assemblyman Datuk Hiew King Cheu, Political Secretary to the Minister of Special Tasks, Peter Chong, Liaison Secretary to the Minister of Special Tasks, Albert Kok, Kapitan Chin Tek Ming, Sabah Dragon, Unicorn and Lion Dance Association president Dr Danny Kok and Kong Yu Kiong, representing Sabah Gerakan chairman Datuk Gordon Leong.