A sum of almost RM3 million was disbursed to 232 schools in Perak for the payment of utility bills and miscellaneous expenses. A simple cheque-presentation ceremony to formalise the payment was held at the Banquet Hall of the State Secretary Building.
Executive Councillor for Health, Local Government, Consumer Affairs, Environment, Transportation and Non-Muslim Affairs, Dato’ Dr Mah Hang Soon handed over cheques to representatives of the schools.
Dr Mah said that the annual allocation was an initiative by the state government in collaboration with the state education department to ensure that schools in the state are not being overlooked in their quest to produce first-class human capital for the country.
“Since 2010, the state government has allocated RM1 million to Chinese and Tamil vernacular primary schools, while another RM2 million was allocated to mission and national-type secondary schools since 2011. Beginning next year, allocation for utilities would be increased from RM2000 to RM5000.”
Speaking to the press after the cheque presentation ceremony, Dr Mah stressed that the initiative was indicative of the state government’s seriousness in ensuring fairness to all schools, public and private. Dr Mah announced the proposed name change for this annual allocation so that the monies could be utilised for other school-related needs and not for payment of utilities alone.
Present at the function were Speaker Dato’ Seri S.K. Devamany, special adviser on Indian affairs to Perak Menteri Besar, Dato’ V. Elango and Perak State Education Department Head of Information Management (ICT), Mohamad Fadzli Tarmiji.
Luqman
