The high number of teachers and students transferring from public religious schools (SAR) to national schools shows that the people have accepted the government's decision to stop providing financial aid to these schools, heard the Dewan Rakyat today.

Education Ministry parliamentary secretary Mahadzir Mohd Khir said before the assistance was revoked last year, the government allocated nearly RM30 million annually for the schools.

He revealed that in 1999, RM26.3 million was allocated, RM27.7 million in 2000 and RM31.6 million was given for the following year.

The government withdrew its aid after accusing opposition party PAS, which operates most of these schools, of sowing anti-government sentiments among its students.