'The opposition is copying Barisan'

Consistent aid: Dr Wee (third from left) handing over a mock cheque to Johor Education Department deputy director Md Hasidin Zaini (second from right), while looking on is Chong (second from left) and MCA Senators Chiang Song Cheng (left) and Teng Boon Soon (right).

BATU PAHAT: The Opposition is copying the Barisan Nasional government in how it distributed allocations for the various schools in the country, said MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

The Penang Chief Minister, he pointed out, had recently announced the state’s allocation to Chinese schools, something which the Barisan government had been doing for a long time now.

“They (Opposition) like to blow their own trumpet and will spin certain issues relating to Chinese schools – even in giving funds – just to make themselves feel bigger.

“In fact, Barisan, especially under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, has spent billions of ringgit over the years on funding to various schools nationwide,” he said.

Dr Wee said this after presenting cheques to 120 government-aided schools at Yong Peng High School in Yong Peng here yesterday.

Barisan, he said, had always channelled the funds in a systematic manner to ensure that the money would help the various schools and their students.

“The Government has set aside more than RM465mil for Tamil schools and RM550mil for Chinese schools to make education available for all,” he said.

On the cheques, Dr Wee said the Education Ministry had allocated RM15.75mil to help maintain and improve the infrastructure of Chinese and mission schools in Johor.

“This is part of the Government’s promise which has been fulfilled, and there is no more outstanding issues as these schools have received the allocation,” he said.

Deputy Education Minister Senator Chong Sin Woon, who was also present, urged schools that received the funds to use these wisely.

“I urge them to use the money wisely to maintain the school buildings and not to build a new hall or basketball court.

“But if they still want to have such facilities, then the schools should write a letter to the ministry and we will help them," he said, adding that most of the schools received the allocation via electronic fund transfers.

The school boards, said Chong, were also required to send a report to the ministry as an assurance that the money was spent for maintenance.