Deputy Education Minister Chong Sin Woon said the RM50 million for Chinese primary schools under Budget 2017 is ready for disbursement.

Chong was quoted as saying by The Star that his ministry had set the amount each of the 834 schools would be receiving.

“It will be paid out via cheque as soon as the money reaches the ministry,” he was quoted as saying.

The assurance came amid complaints that Chinese primary schools did not receive the full allocation last year.

The Education Ministry had said it could not disburse the full RM50 million under Budget 2016 due to a budget shortfall.

Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid had urged that Chinese schools accept the partial allocation and said the remaining sum would come later.

However, MCA rejected the partial allocation and insisted on the full RM50 million.

The matter was later brought to the attention of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak who promised to resolve the matter.