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Press Statement

by Lim Guan Eng

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(Petaling Jaya, Saturday): Former Health Minister and MCA Vice President Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek should listen to his possible successor Ong Tee Keat’s advice by revealing who are the culprits responsible for his political downfall in line with Ong Ka Ting’s healthy political culture. There is great public interest at who within MCA was responsible as Chua had identified internal political rivalry and his hard work leading to speculation of him challenging for higher posts as the possible cause when he had not received any blackmail threats.

Johor MCA Deputy Chair and Labis MCA Division Chair Tan Kok Hong had earlier complained that Chua was “stabbed from behind by certain parties who want to destroy Chua politically” and pointedly urged MCA (not the police) to act against those involved in the production and distribution of the DVDs. Only those political enemies within MCA would have the opportunity to stab Chua in the back.

Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat said he and the public would like to know who was responsible in ordering the taping of the sex video tape. DAP agrees with Ong that if Chua revealed more details, it could help to stop such bad practices and this kind of negative political culture in the country.

Why should the Education Ministry allow extra school charges of up to RM 200 per primary school student when the Government pays for such school maintenance costs, unless they are Chinese and Tamil primary schools?

DAP urges the Education Ministry to review the exorbitant extra school charges which will negate the impact and intent of abolishing school fees of RM 4.50 per primary pupil and RM 9 per secondary school student in September 2007 to reduce the financial burdens faced by parents. However the abolition did not include payments requested by the schools and the Parent Teachers Association (PTAs) when they were asked to pay RM 100 – RM 200 for maintenance, co-curricular classes, the school's sports day, school magazines, and security and insurance services.

Such high charges are contrary to the Education Ministry’s own guidelines on 30 October 2007 placing maximum extra school charges of RM 38.50 for primary schools and RM 55.50 for secondary schools that can be collected from parents. It is ridiculous that there is even a charge for using toilets in school.

Why should the Education Ministry allow extra school charges of up to RM 200 per primary school student when the government pay for such school maintenance costs, unless they are Chinese and Tamil primary schools? It is normal for such extra school charges to be collected in Chinese and Tamil primary schools to cover up the neglect by the government of such schools following the overt discriminatory policy in refusing to give fair allocations. However no such excuse is available for national primary schools which receive development funds of RM 33.30 per student per month as compared to RM 11 per student per month for each Tamil primary school student and only RM 4.50 for each Chinese primary school student a month.