KUCHING: All pupils and students in Chinese schools, regardless of race or religion must be assisted and their potential tapped for the betterment of Sarawak, said Minister of Local Government, Datuk Dr. Sim Kui Hian yesterday.
Speaking yesterday at the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Headquarters here to over 70 headmasters and headmistresses from Chinese schools in Kuching, Samarahan and Serian, Dr. Sim pointed out that there are a great number of Bumiputeras in these Chinese schools with some of them outnumbering the Chinese, especially in rural areas.
“I know that in some of these rural schools where Bumis outnumber the Chinese, it is difficult to garner for donation as Chinese schools’ survival depends on donation. We all must put aside our differences and reach out to these schools and help the Bumi pupils,” he said.
Sim explained that all races regardless of whether they are Chinese, Dayaks, Malays or Indians born here are Sarawakians. He said everyone must look to help any Sarawakians regardless of the colour or religion.
“If all Sarawakians from all races are assisted and tapped for their talents, we will nurture many talented Sarawakians in the future and these will be our own Sarawak assets,” he said urging all the heads of schools to look forward and plan in years to come.
To drive the children to work hard and not to be prejudiced is one of the ways to help our own State to grow better and bigger.
Sim also urged the school heads to ensure that they do their best for their respective schools.
“There is a need to do better as Chinese schools rely heavily on the goodwill of the public for survival and even though the Government has stepped in to assist in their own ways, the Chinese schools must work harder to prove that they are worthy of any assistance rendered.
Schools, he said, are just like our own children.
“There is a self-need to push to do better. Many children need to be told to work hard. Very few will be willing to study without being told by parents.
So for schools, the leaders of these schools must encourage and support the teachers to do well.”
He then gave away a box of story and educational books for eachschool. The books were donations from the Association of Chinese Culture and Arts of Kuching, Sarawak.
