Friday November 2, 2012

PM: Vernacular and missionary schools will not be neglected

Tea with PM: Najib talking to SJK(C) On Pong students at the cheques presentation ceremony in the school in Kuala Lumpur.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government will not neglect vernacular and missionary schools although they get help from other financial sources, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The Prime Minister, who presented mock cheques from independent charity organisation The Community Chest to various schools yesterday, said that additional resources from the private sector were still very much welcomed.

“The education sector always takes up the largest chunk of the national budget, but sometimes, we don't have enough to spread it to all the schools in the country.

“So, we need additional resources, and I am very happy with this government and private partnership in The Community Chest,” he said before presenting the cheques to 78 of the 196 recipient schools at SJK(C) On Pong here yesterday.

Since 2009, some RM1.2bil had been allocated to vernacular and missionary schools.

The Community Chest gave out RM38.3mil to 196 Chinese, Tamil and missionary schools yesterday in its third batch of funds.

This latest effort brings their total allocation to RM100.2mil. The amount has been handed out to 302 such schools since its launch in September last year.

The Community Chest is founded by a group of prominent contributors led by some of Malaysia's most successful entrepreneurs and is funded predominantly by Pan Malaysian Pools Sdn Bhd.

It is managed by a board of trustees, including Genting Malaysia Bhd chairman Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, deputy chairman Tun Mohammed Hanif Omar, Lion Group chairman Tan Sri William Cheng and Hong Leong Finance Berhad chairman Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan.

Najib also launched www.commchest.org.my where people can contribute online as well as volunteer to work with the organisation.

Pan Malaysian Pools managing director Tan Kong Han said they hope to raise about RM100mil for The Community Chest next year.

“We also welcome raw materials from corporations to help repair some of the infrastructure of the schools,” he told reporters. Also present at the function was MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

At another event, Najib said the Global Science and Innovation Advisory Council (GSIAC) had roped in international experts to advise the Government on the best approaches to ensure food security and preventive measures on non-communicable diseases.

Speaking to reporters after chairing the second Inter-Sessional GSIAC meeting, Najib said the GSIAC, which was liaising with the Institute for Nutritional Sciences, would focus on measures to be implemented by the Government to deal with the issues.

News

Friday November 2, 2012

PM: Vernacular and missionary schools will not be neglected