Kota Kinabalu: The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) hopes the Federal government will adopt a more systematic approach to provide special allocations for independent Chinese schools via the National Budget.
Its President, Tan Sri TC Goh, cited how the Federal government allocated funds for religious schools and Islamic Kafa classes (Kelas Agama dan Fardu Ain) that do not fall under the Ministry of Education in this year’s budget.
AdvertisementSimilarly, he said allocations for Chinese independent schools could also be incorporated into the national budget.
Goh, who is also President of the Federation of Sabah Chinese Associations (FCAS), said this during the “Blood Donation Campaign” organised by the Welfare Bureau of FCAS, at the Karamunsing Shopping Complex’s exhibition hall, here, over the weekend.
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Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek announced on her Facebook page that “the government has allocated RM150 million in the 2025 budget for religious schools and Islamic Kafa classes”.
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Goh said this reflects the government’s commitment and support for various educational sectors through the national budget.
He also thanked the Education Minister’s acknowledgment that “independent Chinese schools have actively integrated into Malaysian society”.
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Under the Malaysia Madani governance philosophy, Goh said the Unity Government could provide more systematic support for independent Chinese schools nationwide by including special allocations in the national budget.
He further cited that similar to certain sectors, even though they are not under the Ministry of Education, they could still receive annual allocations systematically through the national budget prepared by the Ministry of Finance.
He also commended the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the Finance Minister, for personally distributing RM20.16 million in special allocations to 63 independent Chinese schools across the country, Saturday, with each school receiving an average of RM320,000.
Additionally, Chung Ling Private High School received an extra RM1 million. Goh acknowledged that this was the third consecutive year the Unity Government has increased funding for independent Chinese schools, marking the highest allocation to date.
He further noted that the said allocation also includes all nine independent Chinese schools in Sabah.
Besides the Federal government, Goh said independent Chinese schools in Sabah also receive special annual allocations from the State government under the “Non-Muslim Religious Organisations and Schools of Various Streams” category in the State budget.
According to this year’s State budget, the allocation has significantly increased to RM56.75 million, the highest in history. It is anticipated that several million ringgit from the fund will be allocated to the nine independent Chinese schools in Sabah.
“This means that independent Chinese schools in Sabah will see an increase in special allocations this year, both from the Federal and State governments!” Goh said.