Most parts of SJKC Chong Boon reconstruction programme have been completed except for the new project of turning the wooden block into a two-storey building.
Kapitan Tay Aik Seng
MUKAH: SJKC Ek Hua (Ek Hua) of Mukah is in urgent need of financial support to help rebuild its only school block.
The school was built in 1930 and had given way to the present wooden block in 1957.
After years of wear and tear, the wooden block is now dilapidated and the school in need of a new double-storey concrete building to replace it.
“The new two-storey building block will consist of everything – classrooms, staff room, computer room and others. We are a small school. We are happy enough to have a new building block to replace the old one,” Kapitan Tay Aik Seng, 64, told BAT V yesterday.
A sum of RM1 million is needed for the rebuilding project.
Over the years, the Chinese community in Kpg Penakub, Mukah have been trying to raise funds and until now, they are still short of RM600,000.
“We hope the Chief Minister (Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem) can help us. As the chairman of the school’s Rebuilding Committee, I have written to him.
“I hope he will consider. The school is not just for Chinese students but also for the Melanau students nearby.”
There are more than 80 students now attending the school and more than 50 per cent of them are Melanaus.
“The Chinese as well as the Melanau community here are either middle or lower income group. It has been hard for us to raise funds from them. The funds we have raised are from other sources such as the United Association of Chinese Private School Management Board.” Though named Kpg Penakub Cina, about 70 Chinese and Melanau families are living side by side with intermarriages a common occurrence.
There are two more Melanau villages within the vicinity of Kpg Penakub Cina – Kpg Sesok and Kpg Sesok Baru.
Some of the Melanau children from these two villages are also attending Ek Hua because their parents want them to be able to read and write in Chinese.
On the whole, the Chinese community have been supportive of the government and will continue to do so during the coming state election.
Tay’s view was shared by Yeo Sin Yong, chairman of SJKC Chong Boon board of management who is also SJKC Chong Boon Rebuilding Committee chairman.
The rebuilding project for the school had gone smoothly with the construction of a two-storey block and a sheltered basketball court completed.
The school, however, is planning to turn another wooden block into a two-storey concrete building.
“We used to have a plan to extend the school compound by buying an adjacent lot.
However, the deal did not come through.
The funds raised for acquiring the land will now be used to turn the wooden block into a new concrete building.
“And in the future, in the event that the land owner of the adjacent land is willing to sell, we will raise funds to purchase the land,” explained Yeo.
He said the school rebuilding project had been successful due to the close relationship between the Chinese community and the government which had contributed a total of RM400,000 to the school and helped make the dream of local Chinese come true.
“There is nothing more important to us than Chinese education.
And the government was willing to help us.
We are grateful and will continue to support the Chief Minister (Adenan).” Yeo believed that the Chinese votes had swung back to BN since the Balingian by-election after the Chinese community witnessed the fair policy of Adenan and his eagerness to reach out to the local Chinese community.
“During the last two state elections, BN lost in Chong Boon polling station.
But during the Balingian by-election, BN won there.
This showed that Chinese votes had returned to BN because many Chinese are voting at Chong Boon polling station.
During the March 2014 by-election, BN candidate Yussibnosh Balo garnered 270 votes while PKR candidate Abdul Jalil Bulang managed only 152 votes in the polling station.