By Abdul Aziz Isa
I would like to express my deepest frustration at the
latest news that was reported by The Star Online.
The online portal news quoted Education Deputy Minister
Datuk Chong Sin Won as saying that his ministry will stop giving allowances for
teachers undergoing training.
Abdul Aziz Isa: Deputy education minister is trying to ask trainee teachers to live in debt
I found that this latest statement rather cruel, absurd
and inconsiderate.
The news reported that trainee teachers won’t get the
RM430 monthly living expense allowances and travel allowance of RM500 per year.
Most of these trainee teachers came from poor families
and some of their parents are 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) recipients. Yet,
the Education Ministry is going to cut their allowances?
His decision clearly shows that the government has no
sense of respect for trainee teachers in this country.
How are we able to improve our education system if the
government keep on oppressing our educators?
If the ministry is facing a budget constraint, then
instead of cutting trainee teacher’s allowances, Datuk Chong should suggest to
the Cabinet to cut the ministers’ and deputy ministers’ allowances.
He should also advice our Cabinet not to waste the
taxpayers’ money but instead using their own pocket money for any vacation or
official trips by following the example of Indonesian President Jokowi.
In order to help with their living expenses, without a
shame he even proudly urged the affected trainee teachers to apply to the
National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) for a loan.
By suggesting this, he is encouraging our people
especially the trainee teachers to live in debt.
We have enough of government burdening the people by
taxing them through the goods and services tax (GST), passenger service charge
(PSC), tourism tax plus with the removal of subsidies on cooking oil, flour,
fuel and sugar.
How come a person like him be appointed as our minister
through Senatorship? Is this BN yardstick and benchmark to qualify a person to
hold positions in the executive branch of the government by oppressing the
rakyat?
I would like to suggest to the government to start a
programme to have politicians attend a course and get a degree before they can
stand for elections.
Judging by the intellectual and political standards of
our politicians even among those with Masters and PhDs such a programme is
really needed for the good of Malaysia.
Improving the teaching professions and further improve
the teachers’ livelihood is no longer a priority to government. The teachers in
Malaysia should unite and protest this despicable decision.
It is time for our teachers in this country to know their
own rights and show it through ballot paper in the next coming general
election.- July 15, 2017.
Note: The writer is
a special assistant to DAP Sarawak chairman and Bandar Kuching MP Chong Chieng
Jen
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