SIBU: A new building under the SMK Sacred Heart Re-Development Project will be named after the late Datuk Robert Lau Hoi Chiew to commemorate his contribution to the school.
Chairman of SMK Sacred Heart Re-Development Committee, Temenggong Vincent Lau Lee Ming confirmed this yesterday during the earth-breaking ceremony for the construction of the proposed new block.
He made his decision shortly after the Second Finance Minister and Minister of Environment and Public Health, Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh made a special request in his speech yesterday.
Lau said SMK Sacred Heart improved so much through the determination of the late Robert Lau to provide the least equipped school with an environment conducive to learning for the students.
The gigantic scale of re-development for the school would impress any visitor to the school, he enthused.
“It was a very big challenge and it takes a person full of drive, energy, resourcefulness and dynamism and with lots of determination to take up such a challenge.
“Our late Robert Lau had left behind a legacy that shows a great man accomplishing a great job, and his spirit of service to mankind has touched our hearts and inspired us to emulate his approach to life,” he said.
Lau believed that the new block would be the last and final phase of the school’s re-development programme that started some eight years ago, led by the late Robert Lau.
According to him, the RM4 million project would provide 24 classrooms, two science laboratories and four special rooms.
The project is expected to complete in two years’ time.
He said the school had now RM3 million in hand for the project.
“We are extremely grateful that our Deputy Prime Minister, who is also the Minister of Education, has given us a very generous grant of RM2 million. However, we are still short of about RM1 million,” he pointed out.
He appealed to the public, particularly the alumni of the school to lend a helping hand to come up with the balance.
Akron Construction is undertaking the project.
President of the Sacred Heart Old Students Association (SHOSA) Robert Lau Hui Yew, principal Stephen Tan, School Board of Management chairman His Lordship Rt Rev Bishop Dominic Su, secretary Dr Gregory Hii and Akron Construction manager Robin Low were among those present.