THE announcement by Education Minister Maszlee Malik to halt the construction of eight Chinese primary schools (SJKCs), approved by the previous administration because of supposed financial constraints is totally unacceptable. Is this his own opinion or is this a Cabinet decision? In a government committed to inclusion and transparency, what possible rationale could there be for putting the brakes on such a small yet critically important project?

Ever since the announcement by the new Government that our national debt stands at RM1 trillion rather than RM685bil, we have watched the ritual of “patriotic” Malaysians dutifully contributing to the Tabung Harapan fund. Even a little boy’s piggy bank was sacrificed at this new altar of “hope”!