Chinese Association President Tan Sri Ng Tien Chee expressed his appreciation for Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar's historic act of presiding over and distributing special grants to independent Chinese schools across the nation this Saturday. He hopes that the government will acknowledge the commitment and situation of the Chinese community run independent Chinese schools and increase the grants to help alleviate the financial burden on the Chinese community and the board of directors of these schools.
He stated that Anwar is the first Prime Minister in our country's history to personally distribute grants to independent Chinese schools, demonstrating the federal government's concern, recognition, and support for the education and development of these schools, which holds great significance!
He noted that since 2019, over the past six years, despite multiple changes in the national government, the federal government has annually provided special grants to all 63 independent Chinese schools across the country. The unity government, led by Prime Minister Anwar, also increased these grants last year, thus he hopes for more good news this year regarding an increase.
Ng Tien Chee released a statement today (10th) acknowledging and supporting the ceremony where the Prime Minister will preside over the handover of special grants to nationwide independent Chinese schools in Penang's Bukit Mertajam Jit Sin Independent High School tomorrow.
He mentioned that Anwar's special arrangement to hand over the nationwide independent Chinese school grants at Jit Sin Independent High School, where he once taught, has an extraordinary significance from another perspective, illustrating the Chinese saying 'When drinking water, think of its source'!
He explained that after the change of government in 2018, the federal government began providing special grants to independent Chinese schools nationwide in the second year (2019), increasing from RM 12 million in 2019 to RM 15 million annually from 2020 to 2022, with a further increase to RM 15.75 million the year before last (2023), and RM 18.9 million last year (2024).
He emphasized that it's noteworthy that the unity government has consecutively increased the grant over the past two years, allowing the 63 independent Chinese schools nationwide to divide the amount equally. Each school received an increase from RM 250,000 the year before last to RM 300,000 last year.
'Tomorrow's handover ceremony is personally attended by the Prime Minister; the Chinese community hopes that the Prime Minister will announce another increase, bringing a 'big red packet' in time for the Chinese New Year.'
He also hopes that the Prime Minister will bring good news regarding the long-term development of independent Chinese school education in our country, including concerns about the Unified Examination Certificate.