Construction of new Chinese schools proves govt is 'walking the talk': Liow Tiong Lai

MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the Education Ministry's recent announcement of the construction of 10 new Chinese primary schools and relocation of six under-enrolled ones shows that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak's government is walking the talk.
MCA will do its utmost to get government funding, and with the full support of the Chinese community, he said, the party can guarantee the 16 schools can be completed within the next five years, provided that the necessary approvals are given by the local authorities concerned.
Speaking at MCA's 64th annual general meeting at Wisma MCA in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, Liow said the prospect for Chinese education will remain bright in Malaysia for as long as Najib continues to lead the Barisan Nasional.
He said the distribution of Chinese primary schools needs to keep pace with development and in tandem with the changes in Malaysia's population demographics, the Chinese press reported today.
Liow said the government needs to systemically build new Chinese primary schools and MCA will ensure that this is carried out with the full cooperation of Chinese educationists, leaders of Chinese organisations and those supporting Chinese education.
"As of 1999, the government has built 19 new Chinese primary schools as well as relocated 80 under-utilised ones. Another 12 new schools are being built.
"The latest announcement brings the total number of new and relocated schools to 127.
"We (MCA) will continue to work with (Chinese education movement) Dong Jiao Zong and others who support mother-tongue languages for the betterment of Chinese education," said Liow.
Meanwhile, MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong, who is a minister in the Prime Minister's Department, urged DAP to help ensure that local authorities in states governed by the national Opposition do not make the conditions too stringent for the approval of new Chinese school building plans.