KOTA KINABALU – A total of RM43 million has been allocated for Chinese and mission schools as well as non-Muslim religious bodies in Sabah.
The aid is part of the state government’s budget allocation for the year 2020.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the funds were for the development and repairs of schools and houses of worship besides providing comfort and benefits to non-Muslims at the grassroots level.
“It gives me great pleasure to announce that the state government has allocated a sum of RM43 million as grant for the schools (RM18 million) and non-Muslim religious bodies (RM25 million),” he said.
Out of the amount, a total of RM13.5 million was given to seven Chinese secondary national-typed schools or SMJKC (RM2.1 million), nine independent schools (RM3.65 million), 83 primary national-typed or SJKC schools (RM6.92 million) and 142 kindergartens (RM801,500).
He said another sum of RM5.29 million was approved for development and maintenance of 145 temples in Sabah.
RM1 million was also approved to assist various Chinese associations in Sabah to hold activities in conjunction with Chinese New Year.
Hajiji said a technical committee was set up by the state government’s grants committee for schools and religious bodies at its meeting on November 2 last year to scrutinise applications received from schools and non-Muslim religious bodies statewide. – The Vibes, February 1, 2021
