Chua: MCA goes all out for Chinese education
KUALA LUMPUR: MCA is committed to doing all it can for Chinese education and does not merely pay lip service like DAP or PKR, said Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.
The MCA president said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin were aware of MCA's stand on this and the recognition of United Examination Certificate (UEC).
"MCA has been fighting for UEC's recognition since the party's new leadership came to power," he said. "That is why there have been some changes with regards to UEC.
"There is now some recognition of the role played by the independent Chinese schools in training the young and talented," Dr Chua said in response to a memorandum Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia) submitted to the Government on Wednesday.
"The top 50 UEC holders are also given scholarships by the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) to pursue higher education," Dr Chua said, adding: "With the ground-breaking event of establishing a Chinese independent school in Kuantan, the ball is now in Dong Zong chairman Yap Sin Tian and his deputy Chow Siew Hon's court."
Dr Chua said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, who accepted the memorandum, seemed to have said that Dong Zong's demands were fair.
"Let's hope he will not sing a different tune in Cabinet," he said. "Nazri is forever playing to the gallery and is fond of commenting without understanding the real issues contained in the memorandum."
Muhyiddin concurred. The Education Minister, who was at another event yesterday, said Nazri was issuing his personal opinion.
What Nazri said was not the Government's official stance, he said, adding: "He has clarified to me that he was giving his personal opinion. As such, it is not necessarily the view of the Government."
"The Government's policy on this issue (of Chinese education) has been made clear many times," said Muhyiddin.
"He (Nazri) should not have commented on it as if he is the Education Minister," Muhyiddin added.
MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said he would raise Dong Zong's requests when these come up for discussion at Cabinet level.
"As a minister and from MCA, I will continue to raise the issue and hope Nazri will also support it," he told reporters at Parliament lobby yesterday.
Nazri, who accepted the memorandum on behalf of the Prime Minister in Parliament, assured that he would be behind MCA when the memorandum is tabled in Cabinet.
MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong, who is also Deputy Education Minister, said the Cabinet would review Dong Zong's memorandum thoroughly.
-The Star-
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