Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Politicising Education

It is unfortunate that in this country, the marginalised community will only receive aid come the time for elections.

It was announced in the Star yesterday that "in the run up to the Batu Talam by-election in Pahang, the Education Ministry has approved a RM180,000 allocation to the sole Chinese primary school in the constituency.
A state executive councillor, who chose not to be named, confirmed the matter, reported Nanyang Siang Pau. He said the school authorities submitted their request to Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein during the Education Minister’s visit to the constituency on Saturday.

Hishammuddin, who is Umno Youth chief, gave an immediate approval for the allocation.
Even with the "immediate approval" of the allocation, you can be assured that the disbursement of the funds are going to take forever. For example, during the head 1999 elections which UMNO required its coalition partners to help the party secure parliamentary majority for the first time ever, the Chinese community was promised relocation of certain vernacular schools. However, till today, schools which was designated for relocation such as SRJK(C) Pulai is only "planned" to be completed before 2010.

But the bigger question then is, isn't the Government abusing its control over the Ministry of Education, using tax payers funds to finance UMNO's election campaigns? Aren't there laws against such irresponsible and unfair practices?

Similarly, in the last by-election at Pengkalan Pasir, Kelantan, the people was promised a university in the state, subject to UMNO victory. The university was hence subsequently incorporated in the 9th Malaysia Plan. This was despite the fact that Malaysia has consistently failed to raise the quality of our existing local public universities.

Are these ad-hoc election and by-election education expenditure and modus operandi part of the yet-to-be announced National Education Blueprint 2006-2010?

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

UMNO stands for Umnoputras Malay New Orgies. They have better activities(orgies) than disbursement of the funds. As always the case. Naturally. ;)

Anonymous said...

In the past, there have been many such cases of 'approval'. It means very little. The only way to get real money is when something disastrous happen. This is really the mentality of UMNO hegemonist - that the Chinese community don't deserve anything unless they are in dire circumstance i.e., that their plight is publicity nightmare to them.. SO if the school is not collapsing or there is a big scandal, nothing will be done.

Anonymous said...

It is unfortunate that in this country, the marginalised community will only receive aid come the time for elections. It was announced in the Star yesterday that "in the run up to the Batu Talam by-election in Pahang, the Education Ministry has approved a RM180,000 allocation to the sole Chinese primary school in the constituency.

Tony,
For the record, are you saying that the Chinese community is marginalised?

Because it's going to stick with you (what you are associated with) should you come on big like you said you will this year.

Anonymous said...

Check out how PAP in Singapore conducts election fairly.ahem ahem...

It's the same everywhere.

Anonymous said...

Well, in that case, we are the ones who are stupid enough to accept BN as "good and suitable to lead the country." Who to blame? ourselves laa....

Anonymous said...

'Miracles' and allocations always occur prior to any election!
Old story, old game and the same old silly voters getting duped again and again ...ad infinitum