JOHOR BAHRU: While tabling the state budget for 2024, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi announced to allocate RM5.585 million for the state’s Chinese community and Chinese education.

He even quoted a famous Chinese saying, “we must not compromise on education no matter how poor we are” (再窮不能窮教育).

A total of RM10 million has been set aside in Johor’s 2024 budget to take care of the state’s minority communities.

Of this total, the state government will allocate RM1.5 million to help 3,000 impoverished students from ten independent Chinese high schools in the states. Eligible students will be entitled to RM500 each in assistance.

The state government will also allocated RM1 million to help 500 students from Southern University College, each entitled to RM2,000.

Each of the 217 Chinese primary schools in Johor will get RM5,000 to upgrade the teachers’ offices and benefits.

The state government will also allocate RM2 million to Yayasan Sultanah Fatimah for Chinese community welfare and various activities.

Meanwhile, Johor health and unity committee chairman Ling Tian Soon wrote on Facebook that the state government treats every individual in the state equally, and ensure that all ethnic communities and vernacular schools will not be neglected in the 2024 state budget.