IPOH: All 200 partially-aided Chinese, Tamil and mission schools in the state need only pay a nominal sum of RM1 each in quit rent annually effective this year.

Speaking yesterday to reporters, Perak state executive councillor Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said the decision followed discussions with the schools’ boards of governors.

“The Perak state government, especially Menteri Besar (Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir) is keen to help alleviate the financial burden of partially-aided schools so that they can use their limited monetary resources to educate students.

“This decision will result in a substantial reduction of revenue for the state government but we believe it is a step in the right direction, which is to boost our plan to increase the quality of primary and secondary education in Perak,” said Dr Mah after presenting subsidy cheques for electricity utility and other expenses to 196 partially-aided schools.

He said the state had also waived fines slapped on schools, which had failed to pay quit rent arrears.

Dr Mah, who is Local Government, Health, Environment, Transportation and Non-Muslim Affairs Committee chairman, said the waiver would benefit 278 schools.

“The normal quit rent rate, at seven per cent the value of school land, is high because these schools are partially-aided,” said Dr Mah.

He said the state government had also decided to extend the waiver to schools, which were located on land that had not been converted for school use.