BN Will Not Budge From National Education Policy - Muhyiddin

The Barisan Nasional (BN) will not budge from defending its National Educational Policy as long as the people need it, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Tuesday.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister said the government was committed from the start to ensure all Malaysians had equal access to education.

"So, right from the start we have seen each prime minister paying special attention to the education sector, with the aim of elevating the people across the board.

"It is the BN government's commitment to provide education for every citizen because we are aware of the greater demand for an educated society in the future," he said when opening Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Desa Murni, Sg Dua here.

Also present were his wife Puan Seri Noorani Abdul Rahman and Penang BN chairman Tan Cheng Yew.

Muhyiddin said the BN government had allocated RM36 billion this year to the education sector as it realised that the nation was on the verge of extraordinary development and about to achieve developed status in seven years time, in order to generate the skilled human capital which would be required then.

He added that more than 10,000 schools had been built nationwide accommodating 5.4 million students and providing employment for 465,000 teachers.

"Therefore, from now until 2020, to ensure the completion of the planned agenda which is being carried out now, we need to maintain the existing government," he said to loud cheers from the packed audience at the function.

He admitted that in the process of fulfilling the needs of the society there were definitely some shortcomings but the government had more than compensated for them through other benefits.

He urged the people not to trade peace, harmony and good education under the BN government by trying something new that was doubtful.

"Why should we change if everything is going well.

We're seeing the blue wave everywhere in Penang and expect it to rise to a crescendo on May 5," he said.

Muhyiddin described SMK Desa Murni's infrastructure and facilities as extraordinary and urged the people to view it as a big contribution from the federal government to them.

Built at a cost of RM18.2 million in 2007, the school is one of the tallest in Malaysia and located about 10 kilometres from Kepala Batas.

It was opened in August 2010 and has three blocks comprised of nine, seven and three-storeys high with lifts.