TAWAU: Chinese education is no longer for the Chinese community only, but also available to everyone regardless of different ethnic groups and religions, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong.
Wee said Chinese education is our national treasure and it would be good for the people to learn three languages – Bahasa Malaysia, English and Bahasa Cina – in order to be comparable with other countries like Singapore and Thailand in the future.
“Today, it seems 50 per cent of the pupils at Chinese primary schools (SJKC) are non-Chinese. Yet, some of people have misconceptions that learning a few Chinese words could be said to master Chinese education as whole,” he said when launching two new classroom buildings at SJKC Phui Yuk, Gudang Empat, here yesterday.
The buildings cost RM800,000, with half of the amount coming from the government.
“Chinese education is the Chinese community’s heritage and no one can wipe it out. Hence, I strongly urge the Chinese community to make a firm stand to ensure Chinese education continues.
“It is undeniable that some of the irresponsible parties have racist attitudes towards Chinese primary schools but Chinese education is a bright language and its foundation must be mastered well,” Wee pointed out.
According to him, the government was very concerned about Chinese education and had spent RM515 million for all the Chinese primary schools throughout the country from 2008 to 2014, and RM43 million for Sabah in 2013.
However, he believed the government’s allocation for Chinese primary schools in Sabah could hit RM50 million by the end of 2014.
Also present were member of Kalabakan member of parliament Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Ghapur Salleh, Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister cum Merotai Assemblyman Datuk Pang Yuk Ming, the school board members, headmasters, headmistresses and invited guests. At the ceremony, Ghapur and Pang also donated RM10,000 each to the school’s library.