KOTA KINABALU : The Sabah caretaker government has reaffirmed its commitment to multilingual education through a special allocation to the Sabah Secondary School Chinese Teachers’ Panitia Association, aimed at strengthening Chinese language proficiency among secondary school students.
The allocation, approved prior to the dissolution of the State Assembly, was made under the leadership of caretaker Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor and presented on his behalf by his Special Officer, Yee Tsai Yiew.
Yee commended Hajiji’s longstanding support for education and cultural inclusivity, describing him as a leader who values linguistic diversity as a foundation for unity.
“We should be proud to have a leader who encourages students to learn Chinese, helping us build a trilingual society fluent in Bahasa Malaysia, English, and Chinese,” she said.
Yee noted that under Hajiji’s administration, human capital development has remained a key priority, with over RM848 million allocated to ensure access to quality and equitable education for all Sabahans.
This year, the state government also channelled RM70 million in financial aid to non-government schools, including Chinese independent secondary schools, mission schools, and non-Muslim religious bodies, reflecting its continued commitment to inclusive education under the Sabah Maju Jaya Development Agenda.
On September 22, Hajiji also announced the state’s decision to formally recognise the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC), along with plans to establish a dedicated scholarship scheme for UEC graduates.
According to the Sabah Panitia Secondary School Chinese Teachers’ Association, the allocation will be used to conduct two SPM Chinese Language Writing Skills Workshops in Sandakan and Tawau, targeting both teachers and students.
The workshops are designed to strengthen students’ understanding of the SPM Chinese Language examination, focusing on writing techniques, comprehension and essay composition.
