Chua: Johor a role model

MCA president lauds state for helping build most number of Chinese schools

BATU PAHAT: Johor is a role model in relation to the development of Chinese schools, said MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

“The state government has helped to build four new Chinese primary schools since the last general election, more than any other state.

“When we talk about development of Chinese schools, Johor can be Malaysia’s role model state,” he said in a speech during a visit by Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman to SJK (C) Chern Hwa in Bukit Pasir, near here, on Saturday.

In comparison, Dr Chua said the community faced problems getting land for schools in Selangor.

The Federal Government had to resolve the issue by building Chinese schools on land meant for national schools, he said.

Dr Chua said the Government spent Rm345mil to develop Chinese schools, adding that Rm100mil had also been set aside this year to upgrade semi-aided Chinese schools.

He said the Government also provided study loans through the National Higher Education Corporation Fund (PTPTN) to Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) holders besides scholarships for Chinese independent school students every year.

On MCA’S contribution to education, he said both the Tunku Abdul Rahman College and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman had produced 185,000 graduates since 1969.

Their current total enrolment is 42,000.

Dr Chua announced a RM200,000 allocation for Chern Hwa to build 24 classrooms, a canteen and a hall, besides an additional Rm1mil from the state government, the Federal Government and the Batu Pahat parliamentary constituency.

Also present at the event was Deputy Education Minister and Batu Pahat MP Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi.