KUALA LUMPUR: Issues related to the development proposal of several Chinese schools in Johor should be resolved expeditiously, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
The Ayer Hitam MP raised the matter after pointing out that the proposed projects to develop SRJK (C) Kuek Ho Yao and SRJK (C) Sim Mow You including the relocation of Yong Peng High School have been pending since 2018.
"The groundbreaking ceremony for the proposed SRJK(C) Kuek Ho Yao was held in March 2018 in the presence of the then education minister Dr Maszlee Malik who assured that the project would go on.
"Because of this, the school had made an appeal with the ministry requesting for the development plans.
"The plans were in fact submitted in August this year," Dr Wee said when debating the Education Ministry's Budget at the committee stage in Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Dec 3).
He said that RM12mil in contributions have since been collected for the development of the school.
"What is needed now is the greenlight from the ministry and I appeal to the minister to expedite the matter," he said.
On the proposed development of SRJK(C) Sim Mow Yu in Pasir Gudang, Dr Wee said that plans were put on hold in 2018 as it was said to be too close to the existing SRJK (C) Ladang Grisek which was originally relocated from Tangkak.
"SRJK (C) Ladang Grisek is now full with 720 students and 50 others are waiting for enrolment.
"This means there is a need for another school owing to rapid development that is taking place in the area," he said.
He urged the ministry to work together with the relevant parties to find a formula to resolve the matter.
"Isn't Barisan Nasional also part of the government?
"Also it doesn't matter who is the government of the day because what is important is continuity in carrying out what had been decided by the previous administration," he said.
Meanwhile, the MCA president also raised the issue over the proposed relocation of Yong Peng High School, a private school in his constituency.
He said relocation plans were submitted to the ministry.
"What is needed is the permit to relocate to an area within Yong Peng itself.
"The current school sits on an area about only 9,500 sqft but is accommodating over 500 students," he said.
Dr Wee pointed out that the residents of Yong Peng including the school's alumni had raised RM30mil for the relocation project.
"They want to assist the government in its development project and I hope that we can work together to find a solution," he added.
Dr Wee noted that he had raised the matter with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in April this year.
