KOTA KINABALU: The federal government handed over RM21.04 million allocation for maintenance to some 173 Chinese and mission schools in Sabah in a ceremony here.
The handing over to the school representatives was done by Deputy Education Minister II Senator Chong Sin Woon, witnessed by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong and State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun.
"This is the 2015 allocation and at first we wanted to hand out the funding on Dec 22, but we took into consideration of the festive season and delayed it just in time before the new school semester opens in Sabah.
"So the 67 Chinese primary schools (SJKC) alone are receiving RM6.49 million while RM2.55 million went to the eight Chinese conforming schools (SMJK), and the rest to the 98 mission schools.
"In the larger context from 2008 since Datuk Seri Najib Razak helms (the country), SJKC alone received RM515 million and mission schools received RM465 million... So this amounted to nearly RM 1 billion allocation for these schools nationwide so far," said Wee.
He said the federal government has always took account of Sabah's needs and the continuous allocation was a proof of this.