BN Meets Educational Development Goals In Manifesto - Hishammuddin

KLUANG, Feb 26 (Bernama) -- The BN Manifesto in the last general election had been fulfilled, especially the educational development plans, said Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

He said he was proud that all the educational development plans had been put into action and were not empty promises.

"We can take pride that the objectives in the 2004 BN Manifesto had been achieved. I am responsible for education and I have observed that what were promised had become a reality," he told reporters last night after a dinner gathering with Kahang residents, here.

Present were the candidates for the Kahang state seat R. Vidyananthan and Paloh state seat, Hoo Seong Chang.

Hishammuddin said among the achievements in education were the upgrading of national schools, narrowing the gap between rural and urban students, and the performance report.

He said the huge allocation for education each year showed the government was realistic about looking after the welfare of students since independence. while the opposition was thinking about the concept since only recently.

"The government spends RM3 billion each year to assist students, especially those from poor families, and on other subsidies. But the opposition does not realise this as they are bent on seeing it as a BN political tactic."

Hishammuddin, who is also Umno Youth chief, said the opposition stance in promising to abolish the National Higher Education Fund as contained in its general election manifesto this time was illogical and unrealistic.

"If they abolish the fund, what would they replace it with, and also for the Free School Textbook Scheme, Milk Supplementary Programme, and other forms of assistance for students Come on, be realistic. I believe the people can judge for themselves," he said.

--BERNAMA