IT WAS HIGH TIME FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO RE-LOOK AT THE POSITION OF CHINESE STREAM SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN SABAH, UNDER THE 1MALAYSIA CONCEPT - MASIDI

Chinese schools deserve Federal support: Masidi

Ranau September 11, 2011: Chinese medium schools with a sizeable number of Bumiputera students deserve full support from the Federal Government.

Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Masidi Manjun, said it was high time for the Federal Government to re-look at the position of Chinese Stream schools, especially those in Sabah, under the 1Malaysia concept.

"In the past, I had suggested this, and I am saying it again today. Chinese medium schools with an increasing enrolment of non-Tionghua students need Federal assistance to enable them to be run efficiently and effectively.

"These national-type schools warrant full support like other national schools,"

he said at SJK © Pai Wen after participating in the Ranau Torch Run, organised by the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS), Saturday.

Masidi, who is Karanaan Assemblyman, cited the case of SJK © Pai Wen where over 60 per cent of its 440 pupils are Dusuns.

"A school is a school, irrespective of its stream, be it Malay, Chinese or English. It is an institution which provides education whatever the choice of language.

"We have to support it because the beneficiaries are our children," he asserted, adding that mission schools are already part of our community.

Saying Ranau is a perfect example of 1Malaysia, Masidi said the issue of race or religion never arose in the district.

"None at all, in fact, there is a lot of intermarriage. The headmistress Lo Bin Bin is a Chinese but she wears a tudung as a Muslim.

Our Kapitan Cina is also a Muslim. But we don't see them as Muslims because everybody here is Orang Ranau, Orang Sabah, Orang Malaysia, regardless of their culture or creed."

During the function, school teacher Atiqah Lina Mah Abdullah, a Sino-Dusun, was emceeing in both Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin.

Congratulating Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen who is Organising Chairperson of the Statewide Torch Run and 28th National Chinese Cultural Festival 2011, he said these activities have the support of his ministry.

The Ranau Torch Run, which was a prelude to the Cultural Festival, was jointly organised by the Ranau Hakka Association headed by Datuk Jimmy Tham Yuk Leong, Ranau Hokkien Association led by Tee Geok Moi, Ranau Sino-Native Association headed by Alldem Chia, and SJK © Pai Wen School Management Board. Also present was FCAS Youth Wing Chief, Steven Liau.

"FCAS's willingness to hold the torch run in Ranau is a token of recognition for the Chinese community in the district. I am blessed in the sense that although I am a Muslim, I have had a lot of assistance and co-operation from the Chinese community here," said Masidi.

He noted that it was most apt for the organisers to make SJK © Pai Wen the starting and finishing-point for the torch run as it is a Chinese medium school.

After lighting the cauldron in the school compound at the end of the run, the Minister presented the torch to the 13-member Mt Kinabalu Torch Run Team led by Wong. They start their expedition today (Sunday) and is expected to reach the summit by Monday (Sept 12).

At this juncture, Masidi said legend has it that a representative of the then Emperor of China actually went up the mountain in an attempt to find the diamond said to be kept in the mouth of a dragon on the peak.

"This belief has since become part of the Chinese culture.

In a way, the effort of the Torch Run Team in bringing the torch to the summit of Southeast Asia's highest peak 'symbolises' that legend," he said.

Meanwhile, Masidi and Kundasang Assemblyman Dr Joachim Gunsalam witnessed the presentation of a personal donation of RM5,000 from Wong to the Chairman of SJK © Pai Wen School Management Board, Alldem Chia.

 "We plan to use the money to extend the school canteen," said Chia. Earlier, Wong said the torch run was held in Ranau at the behest of Masidi.

"We are very honoured to have the Minister light the cauldron at the finishing-point and this is symbolic of his close rapport with the people under the 'Malaysia' concept.

"Datuk Masidi's contributions to the Chinese community, especially to Chinese education, are very much appreciated by us (FCAS) and the people," she said.

The next destinations for the run will be Papar and Tuaran, culminating in the finale on Oct. 9 at the Gaya Street, Kota Kinabalu.

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