KUCHING: Mission schools in Sabah and Sarawak will receive RM21.4mil under the government’s economic stimulus package to carry out upgrading work and other projects.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the allocation would be channelled directly to the schools’ board of directors.
Financial scheme: Najib (right) chatting with Alfred Jabu in Kuching yesterday. Looking on are Ong and Dr Wee (left). He said it was the first time the Government had given such a large allocation to mission schools.
“I am confident that by giving the money to the board of directors, we will get value for money because they are responsible people and will use the money wisely,” he said.
He urged the schools to spend all the funds this year to help stimulate the domestic economy.
The funds are part of a RM50mil allocation for mission schools nationwide.
Najib paid tribute to mission schools, saying that they contributed to Malaysia’s development by producing well-educated students.
He noted that many political leaders and corporate figures were products of mission schools, including himself, a former student of St John’s Institution in Kuala Lumpur.
“It is most appropriate for mission schools to be given financial assistance as they are schools of excellence and well-known for their ethos and spirit,” he said when presenting the funds to representatives of mission schools at SMK St Thomas here.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan and Sarawak Deputy Chief Ministers Tan Sri Alfred Jabu and Tan Sri Dr George Chan were also present.
Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong, representing Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, said there were 410 mission schools nationwide, including 128 in Sarawak and 75 in Sabah.
He said the ministry was committed to assisting the board of directors of mission schools which needed help in carrying out projects such as improving facilities.
Najib also advised the Bidayuh community not to put their trust in politicians who were powerless and running for office.
“I want the Bidayuh people to be with Barisan Nasional and to continue to have faith in Barisan,” he told some 1,500 Bidayuhs at the Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) headquarters.
Bidayuhs make up about 8% of the state’s 2.4 million people. They live mostly in the Bau, Lundu and Serian districts in southern Sarawak. They have three Barisan MPs and six assemblymen.
Najib later announced a Federal Government contribution of RM4mil to the DBNA to fund the construction of its proposed multi-purpose centre.
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