By Zulkifli Abd Rahman 

PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA: In an unprecedented move to provide financial assistance to Chinese schools, the Government announced that the boards of directors of Chinese schools will receive RM50mil (S$20.8mil) in direct funding from financial allocation under the economic stimulus package.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the move was part of the Barisan Nasional Government's new policy concerning educational empowerment by channelling the money directly to school directors.

The Deputy Prime Minister said a total of 237 Chinese schools nationwide would first receive a total of RM27mil, adding that the rest would be given out in due time.

"The funding includes various payment for development, improvement works and equipment purchases.

"Religious schools have already received the money while missionary and Tamil schools will get theirs next. I will go to Sabah and Sarawak later to hand over the funds.

"All the allocations should be used by the end of the year," he told reporters after handing over the funding to representives of Chinese schools at SJK (C) Chee Wen, Subang Jaya, yesterday.

Najib, who is also the Finance Minister, announced in November last year that RM200mil would be given out to Chinese, Tamil, religious and mission schools under the Government's stimulus package.

The direct allocation was the biggest test of trust given by the Government to the boards of directors of Chinese schools, he said.

He said he had mulled over the idea with Cabinet members and had strong support from Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, and the presidents of MCA and Gerakan.

"I had always wanted to see that there should be value for money in development projects. I decided that this is the right time to present to the Cabinset the idea of direct funding for the schools," he said.

Najib said a positive outcome of providing direct allocation to Chinese schools was that the school board members could choose the best contractors who could build at cost.

Earlier, in his speech, Najib said Malaysia practised the concept of "democratisation of education," in which everyone should be given a minimum 11 years of quality school education.

He added that Malaysia was unique as unlike Indonesia or Thailand, Malaysians could choose his or her own type of school to go to.

"While this presents its own set of challenges and complexities, the basis of educational democracy is strong," he added.