KOTA KINABALU: The state government will disburse allocations for Chinese schools, mission schools, conforming schools and non-Islamic religious bodies in five zones in Sabah, starting this month.
In a press statement released yesterday, Minister of Special Tasks Datuk Teo Chee Kang said the state government had approved and allocated RM208,533,199 to Chinese schools, mission schools, conforming schools and non-Islamic religious bodies since 2004, including RM 8,536,019 to the schools and RM119,997,180 to temples and churches.
Last year, the state government received applications for allocation which amounted to RM89,223,976 from schools and has approved RM13,340,000 in total.
In the same year, non-Islamic religious bodies submitted applications amounting to RM84,571,402 to the state government.
The state government approved RM17,445,000 for the religious bodies.
In total, the state government had approved an allocation of RM30,785,000 to Chinese, mission and conforming schools as well as to non-Islamic religious organizations last year, he said.
This year, Teo said the state government had received applications amounting to RM194,480,038 from schools and non-Islamic religious bodies.
Nonetheless, Teo said the total amount of allocation approved by the state government would be announced by Chief Minister cum State Finance Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman.
Teo said the state government had held four meetings after receiving the applications to process and discuss the details.
It was decided that the allocation would be disbursed to Chinese, mission, conforming schools as well as non-Islamic religious bodies in five zones starting this month.
The five zones include: West Coast (South) and Interior – Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Papar, Bongawan, Tuaran, Kota Belud, Ranau, Beaufort, Membakut, Kuala Penyu, Menumbuk and Sipitang; West Coast (North) – Kudat, Matunggong, Kota Marudu, Tandek, Pitas and Paitan; East Coast (Sandakan) – Sandakan, Beluran, Telupid and Kinabatangan; East Coast (Tawau) – Tawau, Lahad Datu, Kunak and Semporna; Interior – Keningau, Tambunan, Sook, Nabawan, Tenom and Kemabong.
Teo said the exact dates to present the allocations would be announced soon.