Written by: Dr. John Brian Anthony

I can understand the gratitude of the Chinese educators in Sibu over the Rm$18 million allocation given by Najib during the BUY-ELECTION in P212 Sibu.

The allocation is timely, as it is given during the buy-election to buy the Chinese votes in Sibu plus those from the mission schools. The crux of the story is: is this going to be a one-off affair or will the Government come up with a consistent policy to help Chinese Medium and Mission schools on an annual basis.

I can also understand the BN supporters jumping up and down with joy for this allocation. But then, don’t you wonder what happen to the Chinese Medium schools and Mission Schools in other parts of Sarawak.

The Government need to be consistent and transparent with their policy towards giving aids to such schools. As it is today, 47 years since independent, this “kindness” appear at a time when the people are trying to make a decision to support the Government or to support the Opposition.

It seems, the Government is trying to bribe the people of Sibu with public money. This money is from our tax, nothing much to shout about like : “only BN can bring development to the people”. Actually BN is a coalition of political party that formed the Government and headed by UMNO. Why did BN, as a political entity start to use public money to gain vote.

In the many BUY-election, BN has tried to buy the Chinese vote. The Kuala Trengganu etc and the latest in Hulu Selangor proved that the Chinese are politically objective in their approach. Such “mee segera” do not swing their vote. Does the “mee segera of Rm$18 million” help to ease the financial burden of Chinese medium schools in Sibu areas – yes it does. Will it swing the vote back to BN – that is the Rm$18 million question. I think not.

The Chinese are NOT voting Opposition politics. The Chinese votes for justice, equality, fairness, level playing field, good business environment etc. There are many examples of good things that the Government did but mostly the Government is seen to practice double standards among races and double standard within SUPP. The elite SUPP families become very rich while ordinary Chinese have to struggle the normal hard way to make ends meet.

BN candidate Robert Lau Jr. come from one such elite family. The KTS group of companies that control timber business, plantation, reforestation, retailing and even the print media. The question is – do we want to perpetuate a KTS Dynastic in Sarawak?

The Deputy Prime Minister acknowledged that some rural schools are worst then the Felda schools in Malaya. Do you understand what that mean? It means the worst schools in Malaya are in Felda scheme areas – yet when compared to Sarawak Government school, the worst schools in Malaya is much better then the normal rural school in Sarawak.

Why does it takes the Government 47 years to notice this situation. The next question is what will the Government do about it?.

In Malaya the school facilities are first class in every aspects and the Government continue to drive selected “racial based” school to have state of the art educational equipment and facilities.

As a Sarawakian, my question is what is the Government doing to improve the schools in Sarawak, especially rural school. We are not talking about computers, LCD projectors, electronic white board etc. We are asking for schools without leaking roofs, schools with adequate tables and chairs, schools with proper living quarters for teachers, schools with electricity, with clean water, school with open field where children can play soccer on, school with proper river crossing, with good walking pathway etc.

Hell NO! after 47 years of independence through the formation of Malaysia we are still at below the basic level in our rural schools facilities. For us Sarawakian, that is what we are voting for. We know BN is all promises and personal richest for the BN politician, yet the rural people are poor and with very little opportunity to change their life.

Conclusion

It is better for the Government to have a comprehensive policy to help Chinese medium, Indian Medium, and for Dayak Iban language to be taught up to tertiary level.

It is NOT good to see BN praising themselves for their misdeed in using public money to buy vote. If BN want to win through bribery, we must not vote for such people. Why? By voting such BN people, we are voting “corruption”.  In an election they must be fair play and we all can see that this is no fairness at all. It is deceit at the highest level by the highest echelon of leadership.

Change WE Must: I do not think Chinese are gullible enough to vote BN on the basis of their vote being bought by the Government. The Chinese are made up of better thinking / reasoning material and holding great wisdom as a guide to their life.