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Compromising on education means sacrificing our future

As a parent, I always put my children before myself. If we’re walking on the sidewalk, I walk on the side closest to the road and have them on the inside. If I’m running tight on budget in a particular month, I forego my expensive boutique coffee so they get a weekend at the movies.

That’s why I found it particularly relatable when Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak tabled the 2017 Budget last week in Parliament. He made many analogies that involved family life and about being good parents.

Najib mentioned that in the current economic situation (which is bad!), it doesn’t mean that parents can’t bring their children out for food and toys. They still can. Just go to cheaper eateries (like nasi lemak anak dara and nasi kandar vanggey) and buy less expensive toys.

I agree. Unfortunately, something else happened during the tabling of the national budget that made me doubt the sincerity of the concept of sacrifice the prime minister was trying to pass on to the people and convince them of the prudent allocation of the country’s money.

The biggest casualty of the national budget this time around has to be education. Public universities in the country have all see their budgets slashed on average of around 30 percent, which should be unacceptable since that is the area that is most needed of protection...

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