Instead, Lim said the funds should be taken from the RM20.3 billion allocated to the Prime Minister’s Department in Budget 2016.

The Segambut MP was responding to the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister’s recent suggestion on mandatory fundraising for schools in Selangor, as government funds for the maintenance of school buildings were insufficient.

Lim noted that Budget 2016 had seen funds for education slashed while the Prime Minister’s Department enjoyed an increase of allocations from RM19 billion in 2015 to RM20.3 billion in 2016.

He also said it did not make sense that Putrajaya was willing to spend billions to build the KL 118 skyscraper and “send an astronaut to space to eat roti canai”, in reference to the 2007 Angkasawan project, but refuse to provide school children with proper places to study.

On Sunday, it was reported that Noh had suggested making it compulsory for Parent Teacher Associations (PIBG) to raise funds from the public.

He said such fundraising activities would help schools resolve infrastructure maintenance issues faster without waiting for funds from Putrajaya, and proposed for a fundraiser at least once a year.