Foul!

Haresh Says, as published in The Malay Mail today. SIN taxes to fund education? Why not? The idea, that 20 per cent of sin taxes be channelled to Chinese schools, was mooted during the MCA general assembly over the weekend.  This was following grouses by the community who believed funds from the government to vernacular schools were still lacking. The proposal will be deliberated by the new MCA leadership as MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the matter would be discussed at the next central committee meeting. Chinese education groups, known for their vocal stand on many issues, have welcomed the suggestion. However, they have their doubts if the government would agree to such a notion. They are simply being realistic. United Chinese School Committees Association (Dong Zong) vice-president Chow Siew Hon had told The Malay Mail yesterday: “I think the government should fairly distribute the funds based on number of students in each school.” I am amon...

Many have resorted to social media to air their grouses following The Malay Mail’s expose on the cash-for-transfer fiasco involving teachers. Facebook page Pertukaran Guru, where most teachers exchange information and try to find their match to transfer to their state of choice, saw many postings urging the Education Ministry to review its transfer policy instead of penalising teachers. Many claimed teachers paying for transfers have been going on for some time as desperate teachers are eager to head to the state of their choice to join their families. A comment on Facebook read: “It has happened. I was assured of a transfer by an individual but I have to pay RM2,000. I declined the offer as I felt it was a form of bribery.” Another commentator said: “In the past, someone offered a transfer package claiming it is a confirmed deal and someone from inside will sort it out.” Read more here . MEANWHILE, MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai does not discount the possib...

UPDATE SEPT 19 (11.43am):  EFFORTS to cleanse the MCA membership list in the past was shot down for fear that the number would drop drastically, revealed a veteran party leader. The leader said several individuals had worked on a paper that was presented to the party leadership to ensure all on the roll were active members. “However several leaders were not keen with the idea as they were afraid this would decrease the total membership in the party,” said the leader who spoke on condition of anonymity. Read more here . ----- With barely three months to the MCA polls, the issue of phantom members in the beleaguered party has resurfaced, again, throwing the second largest entity in Barisan Nasional into disarray, an investigation by The Malay Mail has revealed. The status of several branches are being questioned, and one — the Taman Tasik Jaya branch in Negri Sembilan — is on the brink of being wiped out. It has emerged that certain members in the Negri b...