Taiping folk baffled over decision

Controversial: The 3D Chinese characters of Nga’s name and position on the wall of the new block of SJK (C) Sin Min in Simpang, Taiping.

TAIPING: People in Taiping are surprised that a new block of a Chinese primary school in Simpang near here is named after Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Nga Kor Ming.

They felt that despite Nga helping to secure a RM220,000 grant for SJK (C) Sin Min from the Education Ministry, this did not warrant his name being affixed to the building as the funds were from the ministry.

Businessman Tan Chai Kie, 69, said nothing like this had happened before in any Chinese school where donations received from the government bore the name of a certain MP or even a minister.

The Kuala Sepetang resident said he himself had been a Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) chairman of another Chinese school for 18 years, and many politicians had made donations to the school via government funds.

“But that did not mean a building was named after them because these politicians insisted that the money was from the government, and it was not proper to have a building named after them.

“Datuk Tan Lian Hoe, a former deputy minister, had also helped obtain a RM1mil grant under the Barisan Nasional administration for the school (Sin Min) but her name did not appear on any of the blocks.

“But I am surprised that Nga’s name and his designation is affixed to the building.

“If it had been a personal donation, then it is a different story,” he said yesterday.

The issue was recently raised by Perak MCA Bahasa Malaysia bureau chairman Cally Ting after she received complaints from the locals.

When contacted, Ting said the cost of putting up the 3D Chinese characters of Nga’s name and position on the block could be more than RM28,000.

“Nga claimed that he was not aware that the block was named after him but now that the issue is in the open, what is he going to do?

“The school, too, must let the public know the cost of putting up the signage and why the need to honour a politician in such an expensive way because of his efforts in getting the funds from the ministry,” she added.

Sin Min’s former senior assistant Yong Chung Hwa, 78, felt that if Nga had contributed funds from his own pocket, then it was fair to name the building after him.

“Usually in Chinese culture, for those who donate RM100,000 and above, a building or block is named after them.

“But not if the funds are provided by the government, and a certain politician gets his name inscribed on a wall,” he added.

A committee member of the school’s board of directors, Saw Cheng Chuan, who is also a trustee, said he was not aware of the decision to put up Nga’s name as it was never discussed at any meeting.

“Probably the matter was discussed during the building committee meeting, and I, too, only saw the sign when it was up,” he said.

Nga said the school had already replied and slammed MCA for making unfounded statements.

“I respect the decision made by the school and please be reminded that it is a decision made by the school’s board of governors.

“The chairman has asked all parties to respect the decision made by the school, and this has got nothing to do with me,” said Nga, who is also the Perak DAP chairman.

However, the chairman of the school board, Lo Swee Yong, said he was no longer authorised to speak to the media.

It was reported in the Chinese press that the school decided to name the new building block after whoever donated RM100,000 and more.