MENDAKI CLASSES (Fees)

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for the Environment why is it necessary for Mendaki to charge $20.00 per pupil per subject in classes conducted by Mendaki when Mendaki is financed by compulsory contributions.

Dr Ahmad Mattar: The Member for Anson makes a habit of stating inaccurate information in the form of a question.

Firstly, contributions to MENDAKI through the Mosque Building and Mendaki Fund (MBMF) are not compulsory. Any Muslim who does not wish to contribute to MENDAKI or to mosque building or to both may exercise his wish by obtaining a Certificate of Option which he presents to his employer instructing the latter not to pay contribution to the Fund on his behalf during any period not exceeding 12 months. In other words any Muslim can opt out. Similarly if a Muslim employee feels that he can afford to give more to MENDAKI or for mosque building or both he can do so by opting for more. He can complete an authorization form to present to his employer so that the appropriate increased deduction from his salary can be made by the employer.

Secondly, MENDAKI has different charges for its Tuition classes. For its PSLE Tuition Classes, MENDAKI is charging $20 per pupil per two subjects (English and Mathematics) per three months or approximately $3.30 per subject per month. For its Sec 3(Express)/Sec 4(Normal) and GCE 'O' Level Tuition Classes in Mathematics and English, the fee charged is $20 per pupil per subject per three months or approximately $6.65 per subject per month. For GCE 'A' Level Tuition Classes in Economics and Mathematics, the fee is $30 per subject per three months or $10 per subject per month.

MENDAKI Tuition Classes are heavily subsidized. The subsidies for 1983 and 1984 were $65,592 and $128,645 respectively.