By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 28: Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap has slammed recent remarks made by academician Dr Mohd Ridhuan Tee Abdullah, who proposed, among others, the abolition of government-funded Chinese vernacular schools (SJKC) over the issue of serving alcoholic beverages at events held at school halls.
In a Facebook post dated Oct 24, Ridhuan called for Chinese associations to take over the full funding and management of all SJKC schools nationwide, removing them from government support.
He also proposed that SJKC schools be abolished or that the federal government convert them into national-type schools, as he claimed they are ‘obstacles’ to national unity.
In a statement, Yap chided Ridhuan’s remarks as ‘sensitive’ and ‘disconnected’ from the ground realities faced by these institutions.
“It must be clearly stated that Chinese vernacular schools are not fully funded by the government. While the Ministry of Education covers teachers’ salaries and some operational expenses, school boards shoulder the responsibility of maintaining and upgrading infrastructure.
“To bridge funding gaps, these schools often depend on community fundraising and hall rentals to sustain daily operations and facility improvements,” he said.
Yap added that a one-size-fits-all policy is not appropriate nor practical, as many school halls are rented out for private events outside school hours, and in such cases, students are not involved or invited.
He further elaborated that these events are managed transparently by the school boards and do not compromise the schools’ educational integrity or public purpose.
Additionally, Yap called for policies concerning the use of school facilities should be guided by flexibility, context, and fairness, as events involving students must remain alcohol-free.
“Chinese vernacular schools have long been an integral part of Malaysia’s education system, nurturing academic excellence and fostering cultural diversity. To single them out for criticism or question their legitimacy because of fundraising practices shows a lack of understanding of their financial realities and their contribution to national education.
“The government should engage constructively with school boards and communities to formulate balanced, practical policies that recognise both accountability and the autonomy of these schools,” he said.
On Oct 23, Anwar stressed that the government will not compromise on any event involving the serving of alcohol or activities that contradict educational values within school premises, including after school hours.
He said that even if a school hall is rented by external parties such as alumni associations, it should not be used for events that violate the nation’s educational rules and philosophy. — DayakDaily
