By Sim Leoi Leoi 

PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA: The MCA has lauded the move to deposit the extra allocation under the fiscal stimulus programme directly into the Chinese schools' boards accounts, saying that it was a positive development.

Party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said the Chinese schools' boards had been rewarded with the government's trust for their work and contributions to the education.

"It is a positive development and this is the first time the Government has given the funds directly to the school boards.

"The MCA has carried out an exercise under (Deputy Education Minister) Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong to identify the various needs of the schools. Throughout this exercise, the party has been adopting a proactive approach to ascertain all their needs and the quantum of sum needed for each school," he told reporters after attending the handing-over of some RM23.8mil in extra allocation to Chinese schools at SJK (C) Chee Wen here yesterday.

The funds, which were presented by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to 14 Chinese schools representing others in their respective states, are part of the RM50mil set aside under a fiscal stimulus programme targeted for the development of Chinese schools in the country.

Asked if the MCA would monitor to ensure all the funds received by the schools were used appropriately and with accountability, Ong replied: "Yes, absolutely." When approached, Dr Wee said: "This is a pioneer project and we hope to have a proper monitoring system in place. So far, we have identified 44 schools which have been declared unsafe by the Public Works Department as a top priority."

Meanwhile, Ong said that the giving of any scholarship or educational aid should not be carried out on an ad hoc basis or be a one-off initiative.

On the contrary, both the party and Government had been giving out scholarships to many deserving students consistently throughout the years.

"What we don't want is a one-off initiative. The Pakatan Rakyat Selangor government is only dishing out scholarships now but we have been doing that with consistency.

"I don't want to speculate if this is just a publicity stunt to time with the Kuala Terengganu by-election. Facts will prove it and it won't be for me to say," he said.