P KUBOR The government will disburse RM200,000 in aid for 16 schools set up by the Siamese community in Kelantan.

Making the announcement at a wat in Kampung Jubakar, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also education minister, said this is after the funding for the community was halted in 2012.

However, asked about development in the state during a mosque visit later, Muhyiddin curtly answered: "Development? Ask the state government."

He nevertheless announced aid of RM500,000 to upgrade the Mukim Simpangan Hilir mosque.

This brings the total of aid disbursed by the federal government

during Muhyiddin's blitz visit today, to at least RM700,000.

Speaking at Wat Machimmaram in Pengkalan Kubor, he said the funds for the Siamese community is to raise education level and mother tongue comprehension.

"If they want aid such as Thai-language teachers, we can help arrange for that so they could learn. It is not a problem for us because that is my responsibility.

"I don’t want our children to be uneducated, because without knowledge they would not be able to move up in life. This will become a problem for the nation," he said.

Muhyiddin said the government is committed in fulfilling its obligation to ensure that the Siamese community does not lose out in terms of education.

Mother tongue education

Meanwhile, the Thai-language school board chairperson Phon Eh Ghee said he is grateful for the government aid.

"Today is a historic day where the deputy prime minister is willing to come to our Wat and approve funding worth RM200,000 for us.

"The funds will be used to teach the mother tongue at 16 Siamese schools, involving 70 volunteers and 800 Siamese students," he said.

The Siamese community make up 6.81 percent of the 24,039  voters in Pengkalan Kubor.

Pengkalan Kubor is a border town between Malaysia and Thailand .

Asked of aid for flood mitigation at the later mosque visit at Simpangan Hilir, Muhyiddin said that the federal government will assist the state if help is sought.

However, he said, application for funds must first be made for federal government consideration.

He also urged the PAS-led state government to work harder to better develop the state.

"We (the federal government) play our part, and if the state government needs allocations to mitigate floods, then an application must be made and due consideration will be given," he said.

 

- Bernama