What happened to the RM1bil for school maintenance, asks Dr Wee

THE RM1bil allocation in Budget 2024 meant to maintain 10,000 schools nationwide was brought into question by Ayer Hitam MP Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

He said under Budget 2024, RM1bil was allocated for the maintenance of all types of national schools, Tamil and Chinese schools, among others.

“Why did Budget 2024 mention the RM1bil allocation for the maintenance of education institutions, but only RM565mil was left for more than 10,000 schools?” he asked.

During Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek’s winding-up speech in Parliament, Dr Wee interjected and said that under the RM1bil allocation, RM100mil was allocated for the maintenance of computer labs, including buying equipment for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.

He said RM60mil was allocated for the maintenance of teaching quarters, RM25mil for non-school upgrading essentials, and RM65mil for disasters.

“This is not right. These items must have their own allocation and it cannot be taken from schools.

“We are fighting for RM1bil for 10,000 schools, so I want to ask, why did a RM1bil allocation turn into RM565mil?” said Dr Wee.

He added that allocations for school maintenance have been reduced compared with previous years.

“That is why we want to wait and see. Is this a mistake by the Finance Ministry?

“It was about RM800mil in the previous years, then RM900mil. Suddenly it became RM565mil. This is not an increase. We should fight for this so that the Education Ministry gets more allocation,” he said.

Fadhlina, who spoke subsequently, thanked Dr Wee for his views and said the allocation breakdown for maintenance is still under internal discussions in the Education Ministry.

“This means that there is still space for us to listen and take your views into account,” she said, adding that allocations for maintenance will be given according to several mechanisms, such as applications and a needs-based formula.

“On the issue of maintenance, allocations must be given out fairly, taking into account priorities and also the needs of all schools,” she said.

Dr Wee countered by saying that the RM65mil allocation for emergency funds cannot be included as part of allocations for school maintenance.

“This is for the 10,000 schools.”

In a Facebook post later, Dr Wee said the details behind Budget 2024 allocations for school maintenance are not clear and must be clarified.

He said he was also not satisfied with Fadhlina’s answer, adding that she wasn’t answering his other questions about the specific breakdown of allocations to schools and the construction of new Chinese schools.

“This is the fourth time the Education Minister has not answered the issues I raised in the Dewan Rakyat,” he added.