Chinese schools funding stirs debate

EDUCATION Minister Maszlee Mal­ik has promised that the Finance Ministry will now look into funding for Chinese independent schools, a day after a written reply stating that there would be no such monies.

Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong questioned the ministry’s flip-flop over funding for the 60 Chinese independent schools.

“The official parliamentary written reply given by the ministry on Wednesday was that independent schools would not be funded as they are not within the education system.

“This contradicts what was promised by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, which is that the Pakatan Harapan Government would provide funding for the Chinese independent schools when voted in,” he told reporters.

Yesterday, he said Dr Maszlee issued a statement saying it was holding discussions with the Fin­ance Min­istry to provide funding.

“Why is he saying that the ministry is considering the matter now instead of including this in his written reply a day earlier?” Dr Wee said.

The statement on the funding for the schools was apparently issued only in Chinese, with no Malay or English versions.

His deputy Teo Nie Ching posted the statement on her Facebook page and confirmed it to be true.

In Dr Wee’s question, he had asked the ministry to state the status of the Unified Examination Certificate and funds for Chinese independent schools.

Dr Maszlee’s statement had come after criticism by two Perak DAP lawmakers.