JOHOR BARU: Nearly RM6mil has been allocated for the development of the Chinese community and Chinese-related initiatives, with a focus on education, under the Johor Budget 2025.
Speaking at a special Chinese New Year dinner here, Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi read out details one by one in Mandarin, with help from pieces of paper on which he had jotted down his own version of pinyin (pronunciation in Roman letters).
“Number one, Southern University College, RM1mil for 200 students,” he announced to applause.
He continued to say that RM1.5mil had been allocated for 3,000 students from 10 Chinese secondary schools, RM50,000 to 10 Chinese secondary schools and another RM175,000 to help 550 Chinese university students.
Apart from this, RM500,000 had been set aside for non-Muslim houses of worship, RM250,000 for the Johor Ancient Temple and five clan associations here.
The Sultanah Fatimah Foundation and 200 Chinese non-governmental organisations have an allocation of RM1mil each.
Foon Yew High School Seri Alam’s campus, where the dinner was held on Friday, was not left out.
“Finally, property tax exemption for Foon Yew High School Seri Alam branch. This is to be settled within three months,” he said, drawing cheers.
Foon Yew High School management committee chairman Tong Sing Chuan said he was grateful to the state government for the tax exemption, which would greatly reduce the school’s financial burden.
“The school’s Johor Baru branch and Kulai branch have received tax exemptions and we are grateful that the Seri Alam branch has also been given the same benefit,” he told the media, adding the property tax arrears of over RM590,000 could now be waved.
Also present at the event, attended by about 1,500 representatives from some 500 Chinese associations and NGOs, included state executive councillors Ling Tian Soon (health and environment) and Lee Ting Han (investment, trade, consumer affairs and human resources) as well as Sultanah Fatimah Foundation chairman Mejar Cina Datuk David Wong Khong Soon.
