SIBU: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) is happy that the construction of SMK Dudong has been retained under the revised Budget 2023.
But its Dudong branch chairman Wong Ching Yong at the same time could not hide his disappointment over the lack of allocations for Chinese independent schools.
“I was very worried that due to the change of federal government, this school construction project might be delayed when the new budget was re-tabled.
“Fortunately, in the revised budget tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, this new school is included.
“I hope the project can start soon to meet growing demand in the Sibu Jaya area”, he told a press conference here Saturday (Feb 25).
According to Wong, SMK Dudong will cover an area of 20 acres and is about 3 km away from Sibu Jaya.
He said the school construction plan had been pursued since 2010 when Datuk Dr Soon Choon Teck served as Dudong assemblyman.
Unfortunately, he said it was rejected in the 10th and 11th Malaysia Plans.
“After I became the Deputy Chairman of Sibu Rural District Council in 2019, I restarted the effort and finally succeeded with the assistance of SUPP President Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian, then Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon, and Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg,” he pointed out.
As for the disappointing part of the budget, Wong reiterated that he was unhappy the federal government did not allocate funds to Chinese independent schools.
He called on the two members of parliament in Sibu, Alice Lau and Oscar Ling from the Democratic Action Party (DAP), to express their stance on funding for Chinese independent schools and recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC).
He pointed out that on its part the Sarawak government has been allocating funds to Chinese independent schools since 2014, increased it by RM1 million each year, and in 2015 announced the acceptance of applications from Chinese independent school students for public positions, scholarships and study loans from Yayasan Sarawak, and enrollment in higher education institutions established by the Sarawak government.
