KUALA LUMPUR – The government is being called out by Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (Pasir Salak-BN) over the lack of statistics on rural students’ post-secondary school.
He cited his constituency as an example, saying it is difficult to chart how well rural folk, particularly the Bumiputera, are doing after they graduate from schools and universities.
“So many schools and colleges are being built. How many in Pasir Salak who have completed their SPM, STPM or matriculation have succeeded in their tertiary studies in more critical fields such as medicine, accounting, and engineering?
“There are no statistics. I’ve always told school principals that they are a factory manufacturing our human resources. How many of these human resources have succeeded? Or did they still end up in the various (agricultural) settlements such as Felda or Felcra?
“I want to know how many local children in Pasir Salak, who received their education from schools built during Barisan Nasional’s rule, have succeeded in life and where they are now. Are they doctors or engineers? There are no statistics.
“So, we need to know the level of education achievements in rural areas, such as Pasir Salak. I hope the Finance Ministry (MoF) will give an allocation to the Education Ministry to conduct this study,” Tajuddin told the Dewan Rakyat today.
He then called upon MoF to also focus its economic development programmes in rural communities instead of just focusing on developed areas and states such as Klang Valley, Penang and other urban centres.
Earlier, the Pasir Salak lawmaker reiterated former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s (Pekan-BN) policy to divest government-linked companies (GLCs) to Bumiputera companies or individuals capable of running such large conglomerates.
He slammed Putrajaya for allowing the GLCs to monopolise the Malaysian market when capable Bumiputera businesses can do equally well, while creating a better distribution of wealth and economy for the community. – The Vibes, November 3, 2021
