FOR a second time in two weeks, Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng found himself shut out of a Chinese primary school in Sungai Lembu, Penang, and was told he had to seek permission from the education minister.

Lim wanted to visit SJK(C) Kampung Sungai Lembu in Penanti on the mainland today to present a RM10,000 cheque to the school’s board of directors.

This was after his first attempt to visit the school on August 26 failed, when he turned up but was turned away. The school had already printed out banners and prepared a reception but cancelled the event at the last minute.

Penang exco Chong Eng, who chairs the Penang Chinese and Mission Schools Affairs Coordinating Committee, said the state education department wrote to the state government two days ago to say that the education minister’s approval was needed.

“The department said any chief minister or menteri besar must seek permission from the minister.

“In other words, the chief minister is not allowed to visit the school, again,” she told a press conference at Komtar today.

Chong questioned why it had become an issue for the chief minister to visit schools to see what problems they faced and how the state government could help with funds.

She said school boards should be allowed to decide for themselves who to receive into their schools.

“We are all in the business of running governments. The central government should show a good example. Even if we are in parties contesting against one another, the fight should also be fair.

The school in Sungai Lembu is near the village affected by the illegal carbon processing factory that is being probed by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

It was not the first time, however, that SJK(C) Kampung Sungai Lembu was getting money from the DAP-led state government. Since 2008, the school had received over RM360,000 from the state.

Lim, who is DAP secretary-general, said the treatment he had received differed from what was accorded to a local Umno division leader who was allowed to visit the same school previously.

“This is a travesty. Zaidi could enter for a visit but the duly elected chief minister disrespected. Is the position of chief minister lower than an Umno division chief?” he said, referring to Permatang Pauh Umno chief Mohd Zaidi Mohd Said.

He said he had been visiting all types of schools since becoming chief minister in March 2008, including private Islamic schools, without facing any difficulties until now.

“If a chief minister has to write to the education minister to visit a school, then must everyone else do the same? The minister has no other work? This is not his job to give permission to visit schools. Do they know what is a chief minister? Go read the Constitution.

“(What) perverse logic. Does this also mean after this (as an opposition chief minister) I cannot enter all federal premises like the police station, bomba (fire station), and government hospitals?” he said.

Lim handed over the RM10,000 cheque, which is from his chief minister’s allocation, to the school board at his office. – September 8, 2017.