SHAH ALAM: A new twist has surfaced to the “mode of disbursement” of the RM4 million funding for Tamil schools in Selangor.
A group of PKR members have apparently met with Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim and tried to convince him and other top-level leaders to set up an independent body to manage the fund.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source said they were trying to convince the MB to channel the funds through a soon-to-be-established independent body, which the source said will be helmed by prominent people.
"Yes, we have invited some prominent peoples to join the independent body. Some of them have agreed, while others have asked for time to think about it," he said.
The source, while not disputing the role and capability of State Executive Councillor for Education Halimah Ali (who is now in charge of the RM4 million funds), however, said the allocation would be better managed by the independent body.
Before Halimah stepped in, the RM4 million allocation was managed by another councillor Dr Xavier Jeyakumar, whose decision to disburse RM1.6 million to Tamil schools via three Indian NGOs came under heavy attack.
"We do not argue Halimah is the best person to manage the fund, but we believe it is better managed by our own people.
“We are committed to our work because we have extensive experience in dealing with Tamil school," the source told FMT.
According to him, the independent body will be established under Halimah's portfolio and it will advise her on how to assist Tamil schools.
He said chairmen of Parent-Teacher Associations or NGOs wishing to conduct programmes in Tamil schools could send their paperwork to the independent body for perusal.
“This independent body will decide whether to approve the allocation for the programme.
"We’re inviting MPs and state assemblymen not only from PKR but also from DAP and PAS to join us," said the source, who declined to name the elected representatives who were approached.
He also said that all the Selangor state Indian MPs and assemblymen will be part of the independent body when it is formed.
Selangor currently has three MPs – S Manickavasagam (Kapar), Charles Santiago (Klang), and R Sivarasah (Subang); and three state assemblymen – M Manoharan (Kota Alam Shah), M Muttiah (Bukit Melawati) and Jeyakumar (Seri Andalas).
The source said the other parties keen to join the independent body are businessman OMS Thiagarajan and organisations such as the Hindu Youth Organisation; Child Information, Learning and Development Centre (Child); the Tamil Foundation (TF); and Education, Welfare and Research Foundation (EWRF).
Anwar’s order
Meanwhile, it is understood that PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim has instructed Khalid to channel the funds through MPs and state assemblymen.
According to another insider, Anwar had directed Khalid that the Tamil school funds be handled by MPs and assemblymen for fear that the money will be abused by the PTA chairmen who are mostly MIC members.
The insider said Anwar had suggested this to Khalid at the party’s political bureau meeting last week.
“We know that most of the Tamil school PTA chairmen are MIC members. We are afraid that our money may be misused by them.
"We see Anwar’s suggestion as relevant because this is the only way for MPs and assemblymen to visit Tamil schools," the insider told FMT.
He added that at present, it is difficult for Pakatan representatives to visit schools because of Umno-BN political interference.
With the money in hand, the representatives can help the Tamil schools by handing over the cash for their programmes.
After Pakatan captured Selangor in the March 2008 polls, the state government set aside a RM4 million to upgrade Tamil schools.
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