The allocations was confirmed in an official letter from the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dated on March 2 this year to the Barisan Nasional's incumbent for Bintulu, Dato' Seri Tiong King Sing.

The letter was read by Tiong during his speech at a dinner in conjunction with the eighth installation of office-bearers for the Federation of Bintulu Chinese Schools Management Boards held on Saturday.

From the total allocations, RM400,000 was set aside each for SJK Chung Hua Bintulu and SRK Chinese Sebiew, RM150,000 each for SJK Chung San Sebauh and SK Siong Boon Bintulu while SM Kai Dee got RM100,000.

Although SJK Chung Hua Tatau was not listed to receive allocations in the letter, Tiong had pledged to make a personal donation of RM30,000 to the school.

Tiong described the concern shown by the Prime Minister should be giving sufficient to reject opposition's claim that the Chinese Schools had been neglected by the Barisan Nasional government.

After being independent for the last 47 years, he said that a true Malaysian society had been created where Chinese schools were no longer exclusively for one race as evident by the growing number of Bumiputera children enrolling, particularly in Sarawak.

"The Prime Minister has been liberal and respecting every races in Malaysia," he said, adding that Abdullah had also shown his concern by approving the transfer of some Chinese schools with enrolment of 10 students or less to populated areas to increase the number.

He also noted the remarkable contributions shown by the Chinese community here towards assisting the schools all this while and he also pledged to continue playing his part to assist should he remained as a people elected-representative here.

Meanwhile, SJK Chung Hua Bintulu management board chairman Pau Chiong Ung remarked that ever since Tiong became the Member of Parliament here, the latter had made personal contributions amounting to RM560,000 towards the school.

"Combined with several MRP (minor rural project) grants that he (Tiong) had approved, our school had benefitted about RM1.5million already from his (Tiong's) efforts alone," he enthused.

While Tiong had been keeping his contributions to the school away from publicity all this while, Pau felt that it was necessary for them to be known as evidence of Tiong's sincerity to assist the people.

The rest of the school chairmen also expressed their gratitude to Tiong's efforts and pledging their full support for the latter to continue to be the people's elected-representative here.