Chong: Sarawak gets a fifth of RM50 million slated for aided SJKCs
KUCHING: Sarawak receives one-fifth of this year’s total allocation of RM50 million slated for aided Chinese primary schools (SJKCs), says Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Chong Chieng Jen.
“The allocation for SJKCs, for maintenance and upgrading purposes, has increased almost by double since PH (Pakatan Harapan) took over the federal government.
“Out of the RM50 million for SJKCs this year alone, Sarawak gets about RM10 million. And previously there was no allocation for SMJK (nationaltype secondary schools), but PH has made a special provision of RM15 million.
“Of this RM15 million, Sarawak gets RM1.7 million,” he told reporters during a press conference held at the Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak headquarters here yesterday.
Chong, who is Stampin MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman, pointed out that the allocation for independent Chinese secondary schools had also increased.
“Independent Chinese secondary schools (throughout the country) were given RM12 million in allocation for 2019. All these funds have been disbursed,” he said.
He said the PH-led government was adopting a more diverse education policy to address regional disparity, such as the development disparity between Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia.
He added that the PH federal government’s education policy had ‘gradually changed to be more inclusive’.
“The allocation has changed, and the proportion for Sarawak has increased.
“Not only that, the disbursement of allocation is faster and more consistent.”
Chong believed that the national Budget 2020, set for tabling in Parliament this Oct 11, would continue to provide such allocations for education.
He added that these allocations would be ‘more promptly disbursed by the Ministry of Education’.
“The allocations are disbursed based on needs. Given the neglect by the previous government, there’s a greater need for allocations (for education), and more allocations for Sarawak proportionately,” he added.