A proposal for MCA and Gerakan to jointly work out a solution to the situation of Chinese primary 'micro' schools has reportedly won the support of both the prime minister and his deputy.

Chinese daily Nanyang Siang Pau reported today that Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had met Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to discuss the contentious issue and the proposal, which is to be submitted to the Education Ministry.

The report quoted Najib as saying that the government had no intention to close any Chinese primary school, including those with fewer than 10 pupils. He further warned against any party exploiting the issue for political mileage.

"Education is a very sensitive issue to the Chinese community... I hope no one misuses this issue

or misinterprets the government's intentions in order to politicise the situation," he told reporters at his office in Putrajaya yesterday.

Last Friday, the newspaper had quoted Education Minister Musa Mohamad as saying that schools with fewer than 10 pupils would either be closed or relocated. (The next day, however, he said that his statements had been misinterpreted.)

Some 24 schools with low student enrolment have been relocated in recent years, Musa said, while schools that have been closed can be re-opened if the number of pupils increases.

Solution in relocation

There appears to be some confusion over the number of schools involved. While Musa said there are no longer any such schools, research by the United Chinese School Teachers's Association of Malaysia in April 2003 showed that there are 22 with fewer than 10 pupils.

Today's Nanyang report indicated that there are currently only 15 such schools of which two - SJKC Bukit Fraser and SRB Chung Ung Sungai Ranggan - have refused to relocate. ( See chart )

The newspaper further quoted MCA president Ong Ka Ting as saying that the party and Gerakan would work closely with the affected Chinese schools to solve the problem.

He assured the community that schools would not be closed, but that they would be relocated to areas with a higher Chinese population.

Gerakan deputy president Kerk Choo Ting said the party has already begun research into the problem and that the issue may be referred to the joint MCA- Gerakan committee which is to be set up soon.