Anwar: More teachers to be trained in teaching Tamil, Chinese

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the government has agreed to expand opportunities for Chinese and Tamil language training at teacher training institutes, in addition to the national language.

He also said this would allow more teachers in these subjects to be trained by the Education Ministry and deployed to Tamil and Chinese national-type schools.

Anwar said this when opening Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil Heawood today. Also present were Perak Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad and Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh.

On that note, the prime minister stressed that the economic empowerment agenda is implemented fairly without marginalising any race in the country.

He also said this included the implementation of economic empowerment programmes for the Indian community.

"I mentioned this in Sungai Siput this afternoon because we (the government) do all this, (but) there's no appreciation at all. It's as if we do not care, that we ask for the support of the Indian community before elections but don't care about them now.

"Who said (the government) doesn't care? KSN (Chief Secretary to the Government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar) attended the cabinet meeting.

“At the meeting, if I said hardcore poor, I meant for everyone,” he added.

‘The poor must be helped’

Anwar said that to be fair, the government also channelled allocations through the National Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund (Tekun Nasional) to all races while Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), which was previously 100 percent aimed at assisting Malays and bumiputera, had also been expanded to the Indian community.

"I said what's wrong with giving some space to the poor Indian community… take them, train them and give (business) opportunities to them.

"In the peninsula, how many are poor? Who? Malays, but in the category of poorest communities, there are Indians also, they are citizens, our people… I as the prime minister, it is my responsibility (to help),” he said.

Meanwhile, Wong, in his speech, said that SKJT Heawood, built on a 2.4-hectare piece of land and costing RM13.19 million), began operating on March 11 and has 12 classrooms.

- Bernama

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