THE last day of the State Legislative Assembly sitting this year sparked a fiery debate among the state and opposition lawmakers over the issue of elected representatives not being allowed to provide aid for schools.
Just before all hell broke loose, Mohd Tuah Ismail (PH – Pulau Betong) asked Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr P. Ramasamy in a supplementary question his views on the challenges faced by all the assemblymen when they want to provide aid to schools, but are often prohibited to do so.
“For example, I have often heard from several students studying at Sekolah Kebangsaan and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan of their poorly maintained facilities.
“There are students who refuse to use the school toilets because of the hygiene issue and the unpleasant smell inside these commonly used places.
“As elected representatives, we want to come in and assist the schools in areas they require help the most, but due to the pressure they receive, we are not allowed to do so,” Mohd Tuah told the State Legislative Assembly sitting at the State Assembly Building in Light Street today.
In response, Ramasamy (PH – Perai) said he agreed with Tuah, recalling an incident he had personally encountered when the principal from a SK school was transferred to a different school within a 24-hour notice after receiving aid from the representative for the benefit of the school.
“This incident happened sometime back when former Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and I had visited the SK school to provide some aid for the students.
“Next thing we know the principal was transferred to a different school in 24 hours. It is not our intention to jeopardise or threaten their work, but we do it because we want to help the schools.
“Unfortunately, I believe the schools are tied up or pressured to not receive any form of aid from the elected representatives,” Ramasamy said.
He also stated during the Pakatan Harapan’s administration back then, such a challenge was non-existent.
“When PH lost its place as the ruling government, the relationship obviously changed with the Ministry of Education.
“But of course, this doesn’t mean we will stop assisting the schools here. We will continue with our efforts in ways more accessible,” he added.
State Opposition Leader Datuk Muhamad Yusoff Mohd Noor (BN – Sungai Dua) then intervened and said that during the PH-led administration, the schools did not allow for such privilege too.
“I had to go through the Parents Teachers’ Association (PIBG) instead of the school itself,” Yusoff said.
Muhamad Yusoff’s response triggered immediate reactions from M. Satees (PH – Bagan Dalam) and Chris Lee Chun Kit (PH – Pulau Tikus).
Yusoff’s comments that he did not think the issue actually existed touched many a raw nerve, prompting several backbenchers to fire back.
Muhammad Faiz Fadzil (PH – Permatang Pasir) asked if Putrajaya respect the concept of federalism and called on both state and opposition members to urge Putrajaya to end this discriminatory practice.
“Respect the state government,” Muhammad Faiz said loudly. “Even if we are a PH-led government, we just want to help the schools.”
Other backbenchers, like M. Satees (PH – Bagan Dalam) and Chris Lee Chun Kit (PH – Pulau Tikus), also lambasted Muhamad Yusoff in an argument.
After order was restored by deputy State Speaker Datuk Dr Amar Pritpal Abdullah, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow stood up to suggest the formation of a bipartisan committee and ask Ramasamy to hold a discussion with the state Education Department over the issue.
“This should be done in the presence of the Opposition Leader and interested members,” Chow said.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Alissala Thian