Umno Youth stands by remarks on govt funds for Chinese schools

Umno Youth today maintained its position on the government's allocation for Chinese independent schools, saying this would not change despite calls by education group Dong Zong for action against the party. 

Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh also said that the wing's remarks on the RM15.7 million sum were not politically motivated. 

"If Dong Zong talks about rights, we are talking about the same thing as well," he told MalaysiaNow. 

"Go ahead and take action against me because my stand towards this issue will not change." 

Akmal, the state assemblyman for Merlimau, had said that the amount received by each Chinese school was double what was allocated for religious institutions.

He also urged the government to absorb Chinese schools into the national education system if they were facing financial difficulties. 

Dong Zong deputy president Tan Yew Sing however said that the allocation was nearly the same as that given by the previous government. 

Chua Kim Boon, the president of Dong Zong's Selangor and Kuala Lumpur chapter, meanwhile accused Akmal of using the issue for political mileage and called on the government to act against such statements. 

Akmal said no one could stop Umno Youth from communicating the voice of the people, regardless of which bloc formed the government. 

He also said that Dong Zong did not need government assistance as it had successfully collected RM360 million in school fees for the schools under its purview. 

"This is a big amount," he said. "They don't need further allocations from the government. 

"For religious schools, meanwhile, it's hard to collect even RM100,000." 

When asked about the ties among government parties in the wake of his remarks, Akmal said these would remain good as long as everyone respected the views of one another.