PETALING JAYA – It would be “cruel” for quarters to question the RM15.75 million given to independent Chinese schools, considering the mammoth budget allocated for Malays in the education sector, said Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.
The Umno secretary-general noted that the government spends over RM3 billion in the education sector for Malays.
“It would be cruel, because people don’t question what we spend…but we question the RM15 million?
“Under the Education Ministry, there is a sector for Islamic studies. The allocation is nothing less than RM1.1 billion,” Asyraf explained during a Sembang Santai programme in Kg Chemomoi in Pelangai, where Barisan Nasional is campaigning for the upcoming by-election.
The Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) chairman also said that under the body, RM2.1 billion is set aside for education.
With over 4,000 Mara students pursuing their education abroad, Asyraf said the government spends about RM730,000 to RM1.2 million on each student.
“Who are they? Anak Melayu!” he said.
Asyraf said the allocation has been roughly the same amount under the previous prime ministers.
The reason why Umno is part of the unity government, he stressed, is to ensure they hold steadfast to the principles of their struggles for Islam and the Malays.
The matter concerning the allocation for independent Chinese schools became an issue after DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said the government had approved an allocation of RM15.75 million.
Among those who criticised the move was Umno Youth chief Akmal Saleh.
He compared the allocation of RM15.75 million for 63 schools with the RM150 million announced for Islamic tahfiz and religious (pondok) schools.
He had said that with 1,276 tahfiz and pondok schools registered with the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim), this would mean each school would only get RM117,500 compared to one independent Chinese school getting RM250,000. – The Vibes, September 26, 2023
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