SABAK BERNAM - THE Government has allocated RM50 million (S$20.8 million) to Chinese primary schools that need immediate treatment for termite problems, MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said.

He said the money had been credited into the accounts of the schools' boards of directors after the MCA had submitted a report to the Government last December.

Mr Ong said this was the first time the Government had channelled funds directly into the boards' accounts to ensure that they would be used accordingly.

'The new MCA leadership has identified Chinese primary schools that need to be refurbished and repaired due to termite problems in a short time.

'We completed our exercise in December last year and the Government has granted the allocations to schools with the problems,' he told reporters after attending SJK (C) Lum Hua's ground-breaking ceremony here on Sunday.

The Government had allocated RM3.37mil for 33 schools in Selangor, which were under this category.

Mr Ong said he wanted to provide assistance to all schools without taking into the consideration the races of the pupils.

On another issue, Mr Ong said the MCA had obtained the approval from the Government to allocate funds for the construction of seven new Chinese primary schools and the relocation of 13 schools with low enrolment.

'The construction work can start soon. We will announce the details later,' he said.

Earlier, SJK (C) Lum Hua headmaster Choo Lay Yoong said some of the pupils were forced to share school halls after the Public Works Department had identified termite infestation in 10 classrooms.

'With the government allocations, we will build a three-storey building equipped with 10 classrooms and an open hall,' she said, adding that the school has 320 pupils. -- THE STAR