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Govt doesn't marginalise development of vernacular schools

Posted: 14 Sep 2011 11:16 PM PDT

MUAR: The government has never marginalised the development of National Type Chinese Schools (SJKC) and National Type Tamil Schools (SJKT), but had constantly provided aid to these schools, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister, refuted the views of certain groups who claimed that the government and ministry had not given adequate attention to the development of SJKC and SJKT.

"The government had built 1200 National Type Chinese Schools and 600 National Type Tamil Schools so far. Such developments were fully funded by the government," he said when officiating the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the multipurpose activity centre for Sekolah Tinggi Chung Hwa, Muar today.

The government, he said, provided significant allocations for the development of SJKC and SJKT, as it realised the development of these schools was part of the government's responsibility towards education in the country.

However, Muhyiddin, who is also the Umno deputy president, said the country had the national education policy which gave priority to the construction of primary and secondary schools.

"Nevertheless, we (the government) do not hinder or prevent (the development of SJKC and SJKT) to enable us to become a hub for education," he said.

He said every school that was constructed had the objective of providing the best education to the children to ensure the country's development in future.

The Deputy Prime Minister said Malaysia gave strong emphasis to the education of its nationals with 26 per cent of the annual budget being channelled to education.

The education sector was also given strong emphasis in the Government Transformation Plan (GTP) and Economic Transformation Plan (ETP) such as boosting pre-school education and so on.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Muhyiddin also announced the allocation of RM1 million to Sekolah Tinggi Chung Hwa, Muar for the construction of the multipurpose activity centre costing RM10 million. -- BERNAMA

Fire at PD Esso refinery put out

Posted: 14 Sep 2011 10:48 PM PDT

PORT DICKSON: A fire at the marine pump loading area at the Esso Malaysia Berhad (EMB) refinery here early today saw workers running for safety and flames shooting skywards visible from two kilometres away.

The fire, which occurred at about 1 am, was put out about three hours later and prevented from spreading to two oil refinery tanks and a nearby LPG bottling plant, said Negeri Sembilan Fire and Rescue director Saadon Mokhtar.

He said foam was used to extinguish the fire by the 32 firemen and 24 fire-fighters from Esso and Shell.

"Our 32 firemen, including the hazmat (hazardous materials) unit, were rushed to the location after we were summoned at 1.06 am," he said, adding that the fire was brought under control at 3.36 am and extinguished at 4.17 am.

Saadon said about 100 workers were on duty at the time of the fire and all of them were safe.

"Although the fire has been put out, we are keeping watch. There is no danger to nearby inhabitants. The hazmat unit is determining whether any chemical substance had triggered the fire," he told Bernama.

A spokesman of Esso Malaysia said in a statement that the fire was extinguished with the support of the Fire and Rescue personnel and the area was secured.

"There were no injuries. Safety remains our top priority, and operations at EMB's terminal in Port Dickson were temporarily halted as a precautionary measure but have since resumed," he said.

The spokesman said refinery operations were not affected and were continuing.

"A full investigation has commenced with the relevant authorities to determine and address the cause of the fire," he added.

Many of the workers who fled their work stations were reportedly filling gas into cylinders at the time the fire broke out.

One of them, Kassim Bee Mohamad Kassim, 49, said she (rpt) she heard a loud mechanical noise and suddenly saw flames.

"It was 12.55 am. We were at work when we heard the loud noise and a small explosion. Then we saw the (delivery) pump on fire. We ran out (of the plant)," she said.

Another worker, T. Mallika, 54, said she and several fellow workers were filling gas cylinders when they spotted the fire and ran for their lives. -- BERNAMA

Kredit: www.nst.com.my

Khamis, 15 September 2011

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