SIBU: The seeking of Chinese education fund from the federal government is proceeding well following a meeting in Kuala Lumpur yesterday between Chinese educationalists in the country and the Education Ministry.
Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh said in a press statement following the meeting, which was also attended by a representative from Sarawak, Deputy Education Minister Datuk Wee Ka Siong would visit Sarawak next week to see for himself the needs here.
The representative from Sarawak is Liu Thian Leong, the chairman of Sarawak United Association of Chinese Primary Aided School Board of Management.
Wong said Wee’s visit would help his ministry see the urgent need for repair, renovation and extension among decades-old schools.
“From this understanding, we believe the fund, amounting to RM100 million, could be fairly distributed among the schools.”
Wong said Wee would be in Kuching next Monday, in Sibu the next day, Bintulu (Wednesday) and Miri (Thursday).
“He will meet Chinese primary school boards of management, representatives from mission schools and the umbrella body for the boards of management of these schools, together with the BN representatives of each region.”
Wong, who has been appointed by the State Cabinet to coordinate the needs of Chinese education in Sarawak, said he had received a letter from the Education Ministry last week concerning the meeting in the federal capital yesterday.
He said he sent Liu to represent Sarawak.
As there are many Chinese primary and mission schools in Sarawak that needed financial aid from the government urgently for rebuilding purposes, he said the funds would be given to schools which were in most urgent need first.
On the Community Chest Education Foundation project launched by the prime minister in Kuala Lumpur recently, Wong said it had received the support of Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.
“I shall inform the officials of the Education Ministry and the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department. I shall liaise with them to materialise this education vision.”