KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Tuesday denied allegations that the government had sidelined Chinese and Tamil schools (Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan) in the country.
Muhyiddin said M. Manogaran's (DAP-Teluk Intan) allegation were baseless because Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan has already become part of the education system in the country.
"The government spends RM1.8 billion to pay the salary of teachers in Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil and Chinese. When the Penang Chief Minister announces two or three million as aid, the whole world is excited but for your information, the government spends RM1.8 billion to assist such schools.
"If had sidelined these schools, why are we paying such a huge amount of money," said Muhyiddin when winding up debate on a motion of thanks to Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin's Royal Address in the Dewan Rakyat.
Muhyiddin who is also the Education Minister said such schools had also become a legacy in the country, going through changes and development, since independence.
Manogaran had wanted to know when the Education Ministry would consider Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina and Tamil as part of the mainstream education system of the country.
"We must consider the contributions from these Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan...it is on par with National schools (Sekolah Kebangsaan)...that is why about 70,000 non-Chinese go to Chinese schools. That shows the quality of education offered by such schools was very high although such schools have been sidelined," said Manogaran who interrupted Muhyiddin's winding up debate.
He also raised the issue of why language and literature in Tamil and Chinese were being considered additional subjects.
"Is this in line with the 1Malaysia concept," he asked.
Muhyiddin in denying his claims said students were never barred from learning both the subjects in schools.
"We have never stopped students from learning those subjects. In fact we provide assistance by providing teachers and allocations for such subjects," he said.
However, Manogaran should not compare both languages with Bahasa Melayu because it is the national language as per the constitution and national education act, said Muhyiddin.
-- BERNAMA
Muhyiddin said M. Manogaran's (DAP-Teluk Intan) allegation were baseless because Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan has already become part of the education system in the country.
"The government spends RM1.8 billion to pay the salary of teachers in Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil and Chinese. When the Penang Chief Minister announces two or three million as aid, the whole world is excited but for your information, the government spends RM1.8 billion to assist such schools.
"If had sidelined these schools, why are we paying such a huge amount of money," said Muhyiddin when winding up debate on a motion of thanks to Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin's Royal Address in the Dewan Rakyat.
Muhyiddin who is also the Education Minister said such schools had also become a legacy in the country, going through changes and development, since independence.
Manogaran had wanted to know when the Education Ministry would consider Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina and Tamil as part of the mainstream education system of the country.
"We must consider the contributions from these Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan...it is on par with National schools (Sekolah Kebangsaan)...that is why about 70,000 non-Chinese go to Chinese schools. That shows the quality of education offered by such schools was very high although such schools have been sidelined," said Manogaran who interrupted Muhyiddin's winding up debate.
He also raised the issue of why language and literature in Tamil and Chinese were being considered additional subjects.
"Is this in line with the 1Malaysia concept," he asked.
Muhyiddin in denying his claims said students were never barred from learning both the subjects in schools.
"We have never stopped students from learning those subjects. In fact we provide assistance by providing teachers and allocations for such subjects," he said.
However, Manogaran should not compare both languages with Bahasa Melayu because it is the national language as per the constitution and national education act, said Muhyiddin.
-- BERNAMA
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