Sarawak DAP gives the thumb-up to Adenan

KUCHING, Oct 23, 2014: Sarawak DAP Sarawak has commended Chief Minister Adenan Satem on his announcement of allocation of RM3 million for the 14 middle schools in Sarawak as a good start. 

"However, given the large expenses of running the Chinese Middle Schools, we hope that this annual allocation will be increased over time," Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen said in a statement today.

Adenan made the announcement at a meeting with Chinese Schools Associations at Chung Hua School here yesterday.

The chief minister expressed that the sum to be allocated to Chinese schools might be increased in future.

On Adenan’s comment that he is "alright"  with giving formal recognition for UEC but has no power to do so and that he will discuss the matter with Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, Chong said that he opines that it is within the State’s power to set its own criteria for the State civil service intake. 

"Most states in Malaya, including Penang and Selangor, the employment of State civil service is under the general jurisdiction of the Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam of the Federal Government. 

"For these states, even the State Secretary is appointed by the Federal JPA. 

"Unlike these states, in the case of Sarawak, the Chief Minister of Sarawak has the final say in the appointment of State Secretary and the employment of State civil service.

"As such, it is within Adenan’s power to set the guideline that the UEC be at par with STPM or Matriculation as one of the criteria for the employment of State civil service," Chong, who is Bandar Kuching MP, added.

He explained:"Annual budgetary allocation for Chinese Middle Schools have been carried out in Sabah, Penang and Selangor, and that Sarawak is the fourth State adopting this policy.

"If Adenan were to give formal recognition to UEC in the employment of State civil service, he will be the first person in Malaysia to set that policy.

"This will not only give him great credit, but it will also show our Malayan counterparts that although we may be 20 years behind in infrastructure development, but Sarawak Government is 20 years more progressive and open in its policy.

"For him to do that, it will only take a State cabinet decision followed by a directive issued by the State Secretary.  Now, the question whether he will or will not do it.

"We, DAP Sarawak, hope that he will not only make history in Sarawak but also will set a precedent in the history of Malaysia," Chong added.