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?