KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 17 (Bernama) -- The MIC is awaiting approval from the Finance Ministry on the party's request for an additional allocation of RM53 million for the construction of new buildings in several Tamil schools.
MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said at least RM1.6 million was needed to construct a new building for SJK (Tamil) Sungai Tok Pawang in Bedong, Kedah on a piece of land reportedly already earmarked for the school.
"This project (SJK Tamil Sungai Tok Pawang) was supposed to have started some time back but because of the escalating construction cost, it had to be deferred along with several other (Tamil) schools," he said in a statement here on Thursday.
The former Works Minister was commenting on an online news portal report today which said that despite a 5.5-acre land allocated by the Kedah state government last April for SJK (Tamil) Sungai Tok Pawang, there was still no word on the construction of the building.
Samy Vellu said the request for the RM53 million extra allocation to cover the escalated construction cost from the original RM130 million allocated by the government, was made to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also the Finance Minister when he chaired the Special Cabinet Committee for the Development of the Indian Community recently.
He said the RM53 million was "over and above" the RM100 million approved by Najib under the two economic stimulus packages and another RM30 million approved during Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's tenure as prime minister.
"Once the additional allocation is approved, work on the projects can start after the tender processes are completed by the Public Works Department (PWD)," he said, adding that all allocations from the Finance Ministry would be channelled as usual, through the PWD.
Samy Vellu said the MIC had listed many Tamil schools which required new buildings, and construction work would commence in stages, depending on the availability of funds from the Finance Ministry.
"The government has already rebuilt many Tamil schools over the years through the MIC, and many more will be redeveloped."
He also said the MIC was working with the Education Ministry to switch partially-aided Tamil schools into fully-aided.
There are more than 520 Tamil schools throughout the country with almost 110,000 students.
MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said at least RM1.6 million was needed to construct a new building for SJK (Tamil) Sungai Tok Pawang in Bedong, Kedah on a piece of land reportedly already earmarked for the school.
"This project (SJK Tamil Sungai Tok Pawang) was supposed to have started some time back but because of the escalating construction cost, it had to be deferred along with several other (Tamil) schools," he said in a statement here on Thursday.
The former Works Minister was commenting on an online news portal report today which said that despite a 5.5-acre land allocated by the Kedah state government last April for SJK (Tamil) Sungai Tok Pawang, there was still no word on the construction of the building.
Samy Vellu said the request for the RM53 million extra allocation to cover the escalated construction cost from the original RM130 million allocated by the government, was made to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also the Finance Minister when he chaired the Special Cabinet Committee for the Development of the Indian Community recently.
He said the RM53 million was "over and above" the RM100 million approved by Najib under the two economic stimulus packages and another RM30 million approved during Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's tenure as prime minister.
"Once the additional allocation is approved, work on the projects can start after the tender processes are completed by the Public Works Department (PWD)," he said, adding that all allocations from the Finance Ministry would be channelled as usual, through the PWD.
Samy Vellu said the MIC had listed many Tamil schools which required new buildings, and construction work would commence in stages, depending on the availability of funds from the Finance Ministry.
"The government has already rebuilt many Tamil schools over the years through the MIC, and many more will be redeveloped."
He also said the MIC was working with the Education Ministry to switch partially-aided Tamil schools into fully-aided.
There are more than 520 Tamil schools throughout the country with almost 110,000 students.
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