Kuala Lumpur – The Kuala Lumpur Chinese Assembly Hall (KLCAH) Datuk Seri Dr. Chai Kee Kan urged the government to introduce more and more effective economic packages to alleviate the burden on businesses and the people.
“We hope that the Prime Minister and relevant departments responsible for economic development will expedite their efforts and implement effective policies to ease the people’s pressures.”
Datuk Seri Dr KK Chai made these remarks during his speech at the KLCAH Annual General Meeting held on Sunday. The event was attended by over 150 people, including the honorary advisors as well as various committee members, members; and Presidents, Chairpersons, and dignitaries from various Chinese organisations and societies, making it a grand and solemn occasion.
He also noted with satisfaction that the Ministry of Education has pledged to approve maintenance funding for all Chinese-medium schools once the application is submitted, which is excellent news for these schools.
“Regarding Chinese education issues, we hope the Ministry of Education will seriously address the longstanding problems of insufficient teachers in Chinese primary and secondary schools. This issue not only affects the development of Chinese schools but also undermines the continuity of Chinese education in Malaysia.”
Long-term measures such as conducting teacher training programs, building more Chinese schools in densely populated areas, and reviving the hiring of temporary teachers to resolve the challenges faced by Chinese education, he suggested.
“According to data, fewer young people are willing to become Chinese language teachers. Based on the proportion of ethnic Chinese teachers in SMJK, only 22.17% of ethnic Chinese teachers have served for 1 to 5 years, while 74.16% of them have served for 31 to 40 years.
Currently, Chinese primary schools still lack over 1,000 teachers, and SMJK are short of more than 200 Chinese teachers. These are hidden concerns for the future of Chinese education.”
Datuk Seri Dr KK Chai also mentioned that in the post-COVID era, both global and national economic development has slowed down and contracted, resulting in a decline in Malaysia’s import and export figures and exacerbating the downward trend of the economy. Furthermore, the Bank Negara Malaysia has raised interest rates multiple times, and the prices of essential goods remain high, adding pressure to the lives of ordinary people.
Regarding the possibility of the Ministry of Tourism postponing the “Visit Malaysia Year” originally scheduled for 2025, to 2026, he expressed the hope that the authorities would seriously consider this matter.
“KLCAH regrets that the number of tourists visiting Malaysia has not fully recovered this year. The tourism industry, which has been hit hardest by the pandemic, hopes to see signs of recovery as China and the rest of the world gradually open up, but the reality is different.”
He stated that all sectors have high expectations of the Ministry of Tourism, hoping for more international promotion, increased flights, the implementation of visa-on-arrival policies, and a comprehensive review of Malaysia’s second home program(MM2H). These measures are expected to revitalize the tourism industry and benefit the entire nation.
He also urged fellow Malaysians, especially the Chinese community, to come out and vote on their state-elections, valuing their precious votes.
The aim is to elect a state government that is inclusive, open-minded, and visionary, enabling state governments to align with the central government’s initiatives in promoting economic activities, stabilizing the economy, and improving people’s livelihoods, he said.
He emphasized that the Chinese community possesses the ability to influence the overall situation, and it must sensibly utilize its voting power and influence to urge the government to play a constructive role in serving the nation and its people.
“Nowadays, voters are more mature than ever, and the democratic system in our country has developed soundly. Voters will make wise choices between diverse politics and single-issue, extreme religious, and racial politics. Voters should also learn to assess the governing capabilities of each political party and not be easily deceived by political rumors, lies, and unfulfilled promises.”
Resolution
Politics
1. We aspire for a united government dedicated to stabilize the political situation and implement more policies that benefit the Rakyat, in order to promote racial harmony and social progress.
2. We urge fellow Rakyat to carry out their national responsibility in the upcoming 6 states elections by utilizing their vote wisely to elect an inclusive, open-minded, and visionary state government.
National Harmony
3. We call upon the Kerajaan Perpaduan to fully implement the The 1963 Malaysia Agreement (MA63) to strengthen cooperation among the multi-ethnic people of East and West Malaysia, reject extremism, and enhance national unity.
4. Stringent actions should be taken against individuals who make extremist racial or religious statements, preventing those with ill intentions from attempting to disrupt and divide the unity among the Rakyat of Malaysia.
Economy
5. We urge the government to address the declining value of the Ringgit and the weakened economic conditions. The government should devise a comprehensive economic stimulus package to assist the business community during these challenging times.
6. The government should address the rising cost of living for the people, particularly the soaring prices of pork and the shortage of chicken and eggs, which adversely affect their daily lives.
7. Implement policies that support and benefit businesses, create a favorable investment and business environment, control operating costs and human resource expenses, encourage foreign investment, and allow local enterprises to benefit from the influx of foreign capital.
Education
8. The Ministry of Education should fulfill its commitment to approving the necessary funds for the maintenance of SRJK (C ) schools. We welcome the development and institutionalization of maintenance projects in these schools.
9. We urge the government to promptly address the shortage of Mandarin teachers in SRJK (C ) and SMJK, encourage SPM students to take up Chinese subject, and encourage the students pursue a career as a teacher.
Tourism
10. We call upon the government to facilitate visa-on-arrival services to promote tourism and trade activities.
11. Be fully prepared to welcome the “Malaysia Tourism Year 2025” with the aim of achieving a tourism revenue of up to 100 billion, benefiting both the business community and the people.
Culture
12. Let us set aside the shackles of race and religion and adopt a broad perspective that recognizes all representative foods as part of Malaysia’s traditional cuisine. Embracing diversity, let us preserve and pass on these unique Malaysian culinary traditions.