SIBU: SK Hua Hin English at Sg Merah here is short of RM500,000 for its new building fund of RM2 million, a four-storey building project which is due for completion by mid-year.
Speaking at the school fund-raising ceremony yesterday afternoon, Pelawan assemblyman Vincent Goh Chung Siong complimented the courageous effort of the late Datuk Robert Lau in demolishing the old school wooden building even without any fund for rebuilding.
The old wooden building was said to have been infested by termites that necessitated the rebuilding of the school block.
He said the issue was brought to the attention of Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also the Education Minister, during the Sibu by-election last year, who acknowledged and approved a grant of RM500,000 towards the school building fund.
Concerned with education for all, Goh spearheaded the fund-raising with donations from several corporate companies and individuals including KTS Group of Companies, Ta’an Group of Companies, Temenggong Vincent Lau Lee Ming and Datuk Hii Yii Peng, whereby the total available fund garnered stood at RM1.5 million.
The school headmistress Doris Tan said the school was currently occupying the new building belonging to Hua Hin kindergarten.
Upon the completion of the new school building by May, the primary school will occupy it and the kindy pupils who stay put at the old wooden building nearby would be moved to its own building.
She said the new school building was scheduled to be completed end of last year but was delayed due to shortage of fund.
Currently, the school has 15 teaching staff with a total of 280 pupils.
Goh, who is also chairman of the school building working committee, thanked Bishop Dominic Su who was present at the fund-raising ceremony for permitting the school to have the church’s land for educational purpose.
At the fund-raising project, various activities including charity concert, jumble sale and lucky- draw were held. The special concert which began at noon was presented and sponsored by Rock Iban Group, known as DIndah Band.