Friday 29 Mar 2024
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(Nov 16): Questions about state allocations to religious schools and allegations of political meddling on the matter led to an argument about the RM2.6 billion “donation” received by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at the Penang legislative assembly today.

Elected reps from Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional (BN) engaged in a brief debate on the funds during question time this morning after R.S.N. Rayer (DAP-Seri Delima) asked where the multi-billion “donation” was spent.

Najib received these funds in his personal accounts, a large sum of which was transferred shortly before the 2013 general election.

Rayer said that kind of money could have resolved many issues, including those related to education and funds for schools.

The Penang government was recently criticised and accused of practising preferential treatment when giving out funds to religious schools, although it has since explained that funds or religious schools were not fixed and allocations this year were channelled to schools that were in bad condition.

Rayer's move to raise the RM2.6 billion donation did not go well with the BN opposition, with leader Datuk Jahara Hamid arguing that state reps should just stick to matters that concerned Penang.

Deputy chief minister II and state education exco Dr P. Ramasamy (DAP-Prai), who was answering questions by Mohd Zain Ahmad (BN-Penaga) about allocations to religious schools, said the RM2.6 billion “donation” was a relevant matter and the Penang legislative assembly was a suitable platform to discuss it.

He also argued that the country and its people were facing many issues, such as poverty and education, and could benefit from the huge sum of money.

“This is wasting time,” Jahara, who is Teluk Air Tawar assemblywoman, argued against the focus of the House being sidetracked.

A ruckus followed and Speaker Datuk Law Choo Kiang told the reps to settle down or action would be taken.

Earlier during the argument, Law reminded reps to keep quiet when their peers were asking questions, although he admitted that the donation issue had nothing to do with the Penang legislative assembly.

Ramasamy argued again that the RM2.6 billion “donation” was a relevant matter to the state legislative assembly.

“The question (about the donation) does not only come from Rayer but from the people as well. I think even if the 1MDB (1Malaysia Development Berhad) is not brought up, this issue with the money alone is serious enough.

“This House is the right place to discuss this issue. If the state government has that kind of money, I am sure Air Putih (Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng) can solve many problems and issues in the state,” he said.

The donation and the debt-ridden 1MDB issues had been used by the opposition, civil society and even some Umno veteran, including former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, to criticise Najib. – The Malaysian Insider

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