Guan Eng’s view on school donations clearly misaligned with cabinet

KUALA LUMPUR: The reaction of Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng, who claims that Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek is following PAS’s lead on the issue of school donations, indicates that he is not only at odds with the minister but also with the Cabinet’s decision.

According to Berita Harian, the Political Secretary to the Education Minister, Atiqah Syairah Shaharuddin, has remarked that Guan Eng is also out of sync with the stance of his party’s top leaders, who made a joint decision on this matter within the Cabinet.

“The reaction from the Bagan MP clearly shows that he is committed not only to disagreeing with the education minister but also with the Cabinet’s decision.

“His party colleagues have already raised this specific issue in the Cabinet meeting and a decision was made collectively. Even after the press statement was issued, why is he still dancing to the narrative set by the opposition?

“If Fadhlina is said to be following PAS’s orders, who is Guan Eng following?” she said in a statement.

Guan Eng, who is also the DAP Chairman, reminded Fadhlina yesterday to avoid aligning with PAS and UMNO Youth on the issue of Chinese education fund collection, stressing that she is not a PAS minister.

Further commenting, Atiqah Syairah said that as a Member of Parliament who has served for nearly four decades, Guan Eng should be skilled in crisis management and act as a statesman, rather than playing with issues that contribute to racial and religious tensions.

She also questioned whether there is no room for proposals and suggestions for improvement to be channeled centrally, given that DAP also has its own deputy ministers.

“PAS leaders have also stopped commenting on this issue because they clearly adhere to the same guidelines from the 33-month administration. Criticizing others while they too are exposed.

“The Cabinet has given its opinion, the ministry has issued a statement, and the organizers have provided explanations,” she said.

Therefore, she said, all parties are committed to ensuring that the national education development agenda achieves the country’s aspirations.

“This can only be achieved if all stakeholders are actively involved in providing comprehensive and constructive solutions,” she added.