Abdul Karim (fifth left) with (from third left) Thian Leong, Liu Quan and others at the cake-cutting ceremony.
KUCHING: Assistant Minister for Youth Development (Urban Areas) Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has commended Chinese schools as manifestation of a truly unique Malaysian society where Malays and Dayaks children study alongside the Chinese in a show of harmony.
“Chinese schools were established even before World War II and have provided valuable opportunities of education for the people including many non-Chinese in both remote areas and towns.
“It is good to see many Malays and Dayaks studying side by side in Chinese schools under the same roof. It shows the
uniqueness of the Malaysian society where people of diverse cultures meet and propagate unity and harmony,” he said at
the Confucius’ birthday celebration jointly organised by 19 schools at SJK Chung Hua Tambira last Saturday night.
At the function he pledged RM30,000 for 19 aided Chinese primary schools in Kuching, Samarahan and Serian divisions.
Abdul Karim, who is also Assistant Minister of Housing said the occasion reflected the top priority the Chinese community placed on education and the respect for knowledge and the teachers.
Abdul Karim also paid tribute to Confucius whose teachings he pointed out were still very relevant despite being passed down almost 3,000 years ago.
“He is the paramount teacher who still influences the ways of thinking of many people today especially the Chinese all over the world.”
Meanwhile, chairman of the Association of Boards of Management of Aided Chinese Primary Schools for Kuching, Samarahan and Serian Pemanca Liu Thian Leong thanked teachers for their dedication and sacrifices in educating the young.
Liu suggested that teachers learn more about Confucius through activities such as story telling competitions related to Confucius teachings.
He believed that both teachers and students would benefit from learning more about Confucius.
Among those present was China’s consul-general in Kuching Liu Quan.