Goh (third left) presenting a certificate of appreciation to Sabah Restaurants Friendship Association (SRFA) Secretary Chow Kok Ping (third right) while FCAS Treasurer-General Chen Ee Sheng (second left) and others look on.
KOTA KINABALU: The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) President Tan Sri T C Goh hopes that the Federal Government will include the special allocations provided annually to all independent Chinese secondary schools in the country in the national budget, to ensure a more systematic approach in handling the matter.
He cited how the Federal Government allocated funds for religious schools and Islamic KAFA classes (Kelas Agama dan Fardu Ain) that do not fall under the Education Ministry in this year’s budget. Similarly, allocations for Chinese independent schools could also be incorporated into the national budget.
Goh, who is also the President of the Federation of Sabah Chinese Associations (FCAS), said this during a blood donation campaign organised by the FCAS Welfare Bureau at the Karamunsing Shopping Complex’s exhibition hall here today.
Goh highlighted that after accompanying Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Penang yesterday, to officiate the ceremony to distribute over RM20 million in special allocations to all independent Chinese schools in the country. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek announced on her Facebook page that “the Government has allocated RM150 million in the 2025 budget for religious schools and Islamic KAFA classes.” He said this reflects the Government’s commitment and support for various educational sectors through the national budget.
He also expressed his gratitude with the Education Minister’s acknowledgment that “independent Chinese schools have actively integrated into Malaysian society.”
He underscored that under the Malaysia Madani governance philosophy, the Unity Government could provide more systematic support for independent Chinese schools nationwide by including special allocations in the national budget.
He further cited that similar to certain sectors, even though they are not under the Ministry of Education, they could still receive annual allocations systematically through the national budget prepared by the Ministry of Finance.
He also commended the Prime Minister, who is also the Finance Minister, for personally distributing RM20.16 million in special allocations to 63 independent Chinese schools across the country yesterday, with each school receiving an average of RM320,000. Additionally, Chung Ling Private High School received an extra RM1 million. He acknowledged that this was the third consecutive year the Unity Government has increased funding for independent Chinese schools, marking the highest allocation to date.
He further noted that the said allocation also includes all nine independent Chinese schools in Sabah.
Besides the Federal Government, he noted that independent Chinese schools in Sabah also receive special annual allocations from the State Government under the “Non-Muslim Religious Organisations and Schools of Various Streams” category in the Sabah Budget.
According to this year’s Sabah Budget, this allocation has significantly increased to RM56.75 million, the highest in history. It is anticipated that several million ringgit from this fund will be allocated to the nine independent Chinese schools in Sabah.
“This means that independent Chinese schools in Sabah will see an increase in special allocations this year, both from the Federal and State Governments,” he said.
