State to continue assisting Chinese medium schools; insists that race, creed not a factor in granting government aid
Abang Johari (second left) presents a mock cheque for RM500,000 to Kuching Chung Hua Primary School No. 1 to 6 Management Committee chairman Wong Tiong Hock. At third left is Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Kuching Liu Quan, while Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How is at second right.
KUCHING: The state government will continue to assist Chinese medium schools in Sarawak.
Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state government was ‘colour blind’ when assisting the people regardless of race or religion, calling this the Sarawakian way.
“This is the policy that has always been set by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem, and it will continue to stay,” said Abang Johari during SJK Chung Hua No. 4’s fundraising dinner on Friday.
“Adenan had before this pledged to assist Chinese schools by giving (them) RM3 million, before announcing another RM4 million, while promising to give again in future. From this, we can conclude that the government is serious about Chinese education.”
Abang Johari said in Sarawak, things were very different as the government had always ensured that its policies would benefit every race, with no one being left behind.
“Preserve this tradition and culture for our younger generations of Sarawakians to emulate in the future,” he said.
Meanwhile, event chairman Jonathan Chai said the dinner raised RM2 million, but the committee was still short of another RM2 million required to complete the RM6 million project.
“Tickets to tonight’s event were sold out in a week and we had to add tables to a total of 123, which is the maximum for tonight’s venue,” he said.
Over RM2.336 million was raised, while Abang Johari – who had earlier allocated a RM500,000 grant – promised another RM300,000. SUPP president Senator Datuk Dr Sim Hui Kian managed to get RM1.5 million in funding from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Earlier on Friday in Sibu, Dudong assemblyman Yap Hoi Liong lodged a police report against the ‘Red Shirt’ rally held on Malaysia Day in Kuala Lumpur.
According to Yap, he had received many complaints against the rally, which he said posed a threat to the Chinese community.
He highlighted a banner carried by participants that screamed ‘Hapuskan SJKC’ (Eliminate Chinese-medium Primary Schools).
“The statement incited the Chinese community in Malaysia. This could damage the harmony and unity among the people in Malaysia,” he opined. Yap called on the police to investigate the issue according to the law. He said he expected an answer from the police within 14 days.